Appalachia’s Colleges in the Crosshairs | Roanoke News

American higher education is locked in a brutal battle for students—think cold war without bombs, where survival hinges on attracting enough learners to stay afloat. Appalachia’s small colleges, lifelines for their towns and engines of upward mobility, are bearing the brunt. Once thriving, many now face collapse as elite schools outbid them with NIL deals and athletic arms races, leaving rural institutions behind. The fix? States must rethink funding, embrace bold policies like Virginia’s Tuition Assistance Grant, and colleges must collaborate—not compete—to rebuild as community anchors, not just academic institutions. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/00b7b19c9b4a2d79