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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
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
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  Data: Rural Graduate Retention and State Workforce Contributions in South Carolina: Findings from Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Data
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kyle+Gray%22">Kyle Gray</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elise+Miller+McNeely%22">Elise Miller McNeely</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Davidson+Pisacreta%22">Elizabeth Davidson Pisacreta</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ithaka+S%2BR%22">Ithaka S+R</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Postsecondary+Employment+Outcomes+%28PSEO%29+Coalition%22">Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Coalition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Texas+Higher+Education+Foundation%22">Texas Higher Education Foundation</searchLink>
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  Data: 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
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Carolina%22">South Carolina</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.18665/sr.324799
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: 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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        Value: 10.18665/sr.324799
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 40
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: College Graduates
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      – SubjectFull: Rural Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Economic Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Income
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      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
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      – SubjectFull: Salary Wage Differentials
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      – SubjectFull: Migration Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Employment
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      – SubjectFull: South Carolina
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      – TitleFull: Rural Graduate Retention and State Workforce Contributions in South Carolina: Findings from Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Data
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