University of Iowa Embraces New Opportunities for Rural Students with $100 Million Gift
The University of Iowa is set to bolster its support for rural and small-town students following a significant $100 million donation from Trott Family Philanthropies. This contribution will enhance the Small Town and Rural Students College Network (STARS), a 32-school coalition co-founded by the University of Iowa.
This generous donation will inaugurate the Trott Center for Excellence in Rural America at the University of Chicago, STARS’ founding partner. The funding will be utilized to broaden the STARS College Advisor Program, introduce new career preparation initiatives, and support the continued expansion of the network, which anticipates adding eight more member schools soon.
Impact on Iowa’s Educational Landscape
Being one of the original 16 founding members of STARS in 2023, the University of Iowa has been steadfast in its mission to widen educational access across the state. The university has consistently reached out to rural students, visiting over 140 rural Iowa schools annually.
The Trott gift will amplify these efforts. Data shows that STARS students have a higher likelihood—more than double the national average—of attending four-year institutions. The expanded programming made possible by the gift will feature a rural internship matching program, career treks, employer-partnered career competitions, and earlier career advising access. These are additional resources for Iowa’s rural students, complementing the current advising and outreach provided by the university.
This fall, approximately 17% of the University of Iowa’s incoming students hail from rural areas, and 20% identify as first-generation students. Brent Gage, UI associate vice president for enrollment management, remarked, “These numbers are a strong sign that our work with STARS and Iowa’s rural communities is reaching the students it’s meant to reach. This gift means we can build on that momentum — giving students even more support, from college advising all the way to their first job after graduation.”
At Harlan High School in western Iowa, counselor Jenni Svendsen noted that many students are the first in their families to attend college. She acknowledged STARS’ role in bridging this gap, saying, “I think a lot of it is expanding our students’ sense of what’s out there. STARS is really good about bringing opportunities to our students that they may not have.”
Details on the Gift and STARS Network
Despite rural students graduating high school at similar rates to their urban counterparts, they are less likely to enroll in and complete four-year college programs due to limited access to resources like dedicated college counselors. Since its launch in 2023, STARS member schools have collectively enrolled nearly 40,000 rural and small-town students, with many schools observing a doubling of their rural student populations over three years.
The Trott gift kickstarts a decade-long initiative to secure $300 million to aid rural students from early academic stages through to career development. The donation will also increase the number of STARS college advisors from 10 to 16, enhancing free college advising services, workshops, and educational resources for 84 partner schools across 20 states. Moreover, the gift aligns with STARS’ aspirations to provide one-on-one college advising to rural students nationwide.
A pivotal element of the new Trott Center will be guiding students in translating educational opportunities into successful career paths. By connecting students with career preparation and professional networks, the initiative aims to create opportunities for students while simultaneously fortifying rural communities.
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