User:Cedar Tree/Education desert

An education desert is an area with little access to postsecondary education, especially broad-access public education. About 10% of the population of the US lives in education deserts. About 57.4% of first-year students attending public four-year institutions attend within 50 miles of their permanent home. 30.7 million Americans live near only one public institution and 10.1 million live in a public education desert. Postsecondary education is disproportionately in wealthier areas, urban centers, and the eastern part of the US.

Definitions
U.S. News & World Report defines an education desert as any area where there are zero public colleges or universities or only one public college that admits over 80% of its applicants. However, 'education desert' can be used to mean any place that does not have reasonable physical access to a school. 'Reasonable' and 'school' can be defined more specifically for more specific contexts, like public postsecondary education or primary education.

Effects
Students without access to public education may be forced to enroll at a private school, which could leave them out of benefits of many free college or financial aid programs which specifically target those attending public schools.