Episode 4 Season 9: Educated Out: The Hidden Cost of Elite College for Rural Students

What does it really cost rural students to attend elite colleges? In this episode, Kirsten and Matt talk with Dr. Mara Tieken, professor of education and author of Educated Out , about the hidden challenges rural, first-generation students face after admission. From financial strain and social isolation to “conditional belonging” and the pull between opportunity and home, Dr. Tieken unpacks the…