Rural Graduate Retention and State Workforce Contributions in South Carolina: Findings from Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Data
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| Title: | Rural Graduate Retention and State Workforce Contributions in South Carolina: Findings from Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Data |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Kyle Gray, Elise Miller McNeely, Elizabeth Davidson Pisacreta, Ithaka S+R, Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Coalition, Texas Higher Education Foundation |
| Source: | ITHAKA S+R. 2026. |
| Availability: | ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 40 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Strada Education Foundation |
| Intended Audience: | Policymakers |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research Numerical/Quantitative Data |
| Education Level: | Postsecondary Education Higher Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Education Work Relationship, Postsecondary Education, Outcomes of Education, College Graduates, Rural Colleges, Urban Schools, Associate Degrees, Bachelors Degrees, Geographic Location, Institutional Characteristics, Economic Factors, Income, Labor Force Development, Salary Wage Differentials, Migration Patterns, Employment |
| Geographic Terms: | South Carolina |
| DOI: | 10.18665/sr.324799 |
| Abstract: | This analysis uses Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) data to examine how the earnings, employment locations, and contributions to South Carolina's workforce differ for graduates of rural- and urban-serving institutions in the state. By comparing outcomes for associate and bachelor's degree graduates, the analysis highlights how the urbanicity of where students study shapes both individual economic trajectories and the extent to which graduates remain employed in South Carolina. These findings underscore the distinct and complementary roles that rural- and urban-serving institutions play in South Carolina's workforce. Rural institutions, particularly those primarily awarding associate degrees, serve as critical anchors for the state's labor supply, retaining graduates in high-need sectors that are less likely to attract out-of-state talent. While graduates of rural institutions earn less on average, their concentration in essential industries highlights a form of public value that is not fully captured by earnings alone. For policymakers, this analysis suggests the importance of aligning postsecondary investments with both economic returns and workforce retention goals. Strategies to strengthen South Carolina's long-term workforce may benefit from recognizing the workforce-stabilizing role of rural institutions, supporting pathways that connect rural and urban institutions, and expanding in-state employment opportunities in higher-paying sectors. These insights are directly relevant to efforts under the South Carolina Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act (Act 67) to address obstacles unique to rural communities and to ensure that postsecondary education contributes to sustained economic opportunity across the state. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED681106 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This analysis uses Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) data to examine how the earnings, employment locations, and contributions to South Carolina's workforce differ for graduates of rural- and urban-serving institutions in the state. By comparing outcomes for associate and bachelor's degree graduates, the analysis highlights how the urbanicity of where students study shapes both individual economic trajectories and the extent to which graduates remain employed in South Carolina. These findings underscore the distinct and complementary roles that rural- and urban-serving institutions play in South Carolina's workforce. Rural institutions, particularly those primarily awarding associate degrees, serve as critical anchors for the state's labor supply, retaining graduates in high-need sectors that are less likely to attract out-of-state talent. While graduates of rural institutions earn less on average, their concentration in essential industries highlights a form of public value that is not fully captured by earnings alone. For policymakers, this analysis suggests the importance of aligning postsecondary investments with both economic returns and workforce retention goals. Strategies to strengthen South Carolina's long-term workforce may benefit from recognizing the workforce-stabilizing role of rural institutions, supporting pathways that connect rural and urban institutions, and expanding in-state employment opportunities in higher-paying sectors. These insights are directly relevant to efforts under the South Carolina Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act (Act 67) to address obstacles unique to rural communities and to ensure that postsecondary education contributes to sustained economic opportunity across the state. |
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| DOI: | 10.18665/sr.324799 |
