Why Do Rural Two-Year Graduates Stay in Rural Communities: A Narrative Inquiry

The rural brain drain phenomena is evident in society today. Even with this phenomenon taking place, a set of individuals designated as “stayers” and “boomerangs,” are staying and living in rural communities even after attaining a credential at a two-year college. The purpose of this study was to advance a deep understanding of individuals in a rural community, possibly providing insight to creating brain gain, and seeking to understand students through a persona for messaging and communications. This study employed a narrative inquiry approach in three phases: data frame, semi-structured interviews, and story completion, with the underpinning of human capital, life course, and migration theories. The study concludes with an analysis of student stories from a rural Midwestern two-year public college, and five themes emerged. These resultant themes of the study provide rural leaders, organizations, businesses, and educational institutions with a deeper understanding of the individuals who work, play, and attend the two-year college. These individuals are seeking to create brain gain in their communities. In addition, the resultant themes hint at using a persona for creating messaging and communication to likeminded individuals in the rural communities