STEM education prepares students for a wide variety of career opportunities. There is a growing demand in the workforce for people who are trained in science, technology, engineering, and math skills. STEM jobs are projected to grow by more than 10% between 2023-2031 in the United States. Careers in the STEM-heavy field of environmental science are diverse, including a wide range of jobs that focus on math, writing, or studying the natural world.  

All students and educators, no matter their background, have a place in STEM. However, where you live can impact the opportunities you have to explore these fields of study. Research shows that students from rural communities are significantly less likely to enroll in postsecondary STEM degree programs. While rural students begin high school with the same levels of interest in STEM as students from suburban areas, they often face a lack of pathways to get involved in STEM. 

This is a big challenge, especially when considering that 9.8 million students attend public schools in rural areas. (That’s roughly 20% of all public school students!) According to the US Census Bureau, “rural” areas include all geographic areas that are not classified as urban; i.e., with populations of fewer than 2,500 people. A large group of young people in the US are potentially unable to take advantage of the growing number of jobs and economic opportunity fueled by STEM. 

STEM in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities

While communities across rural America differ in terms of remoteness, geography, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, the National Academies identified some common challenges and opportunities. Schools in these areas often struggle to recruit and retain STEM teachers and don’t have close proximity to STEM-related organizations like museums. However, their proximity to the natural world, close social ties, and local knowledge can be assets that support place-based learning. 

While people who live in rural areas have attained higher levels of education since 1960, the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree—which is often associated with better-paying jobs—is still higher in urban areas. Factors that limit the pathways to college-level STEM education and careers for rural students can include less diverse coursework opportunities at school, geographic isolation, limited local career options, and a lack of mentorship or role models in STEM. 

Building rural career pathways to STEM helps students progress from an area of interest in high school to future higher education and employment by aligning coursework, training, and real-world experience to support high-demand occupations. Often, these pathways allow a student to find employment in STEM in their current rural area, if they choose. Strategies to connect rural students with STEM include:

• Providing students with real-world work experience in the community through internships and apprenticeships with local businesses.
• Building partnerships between K-12 schools and local higher education institutions, tribal leaders, and the business community.
• Funding schools in rural areas so they can purchase up-to-date materials and technology.
• Increasing access to extracurricular and informal programs that let students explore interests and develop STEM skills.
• Offering training and professional development for rural teachers in STEM.

Examples of Rural Career Opportunities in STEM

NEEF grants and programs support the rural-to-STEM-career pipeline in many ways. Visit our interactive StoryMap to learn about NEEF’s Greening STEM projects throughout the country, supporting economically disadvantaged communities and for populations underrepresented in STEM. 

Environmental Science

Since 2020, NEEF and the National Park Service have partnered with the US Department of Education to support Greening STEM environmental education projects at national parks.

At Shenandoah National Park, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers work with students at nearby rural schools to build an understanding and appreciation of public lands and construct pollinator gardens. VISTAs serving on NEEF Greening STEM projects manage relationships with after-school program partners, develop educational components for students, and create outreach materials—skills that will help their professional development as they consider future career opportunities in the field.

Environmental Engineering

Water quality, soil erosion, and agricultural runoff are pressing environmental issues across the country that require effective, evidence-based solutions. Seventh grade students at Bettendorf Middle School in Quad Cities, Iowa, spent several weeks researching prairie ecology as part of a Greening STEM project supported by NEEF and Arconic Foundation. 

Students received hands-on experience on the grounds of Eastern Iowa Community College, where they examined several acres of land and provided suggestions on how it could be redeveloped to restore its natural prairie habitat.

Resource Management

While the STEM workforce is becoming more diverse, there is still a long way to go to achieve equal representation. Two-time BLM Greening STEM grant recipient Resources for Indian Student Education (RISE) is helping to address this gap by designing and delivering STEM programming that shows Native American students in rural Modoc County, California, that they can have a future in natural resource conservation on traditional tribal lands. 

Learn More About Expanding STEM in Rural Communities

Introducing rural students to STEM education and mentorship can change the trajectory of their lives. But it can do more than simply expand their personal career opportunities and earning potential—STEM education is also critical for the future of innovation and productivity in the United States. 

Learn more about the benefits of STEM education and career opportunities in environmental science:

• NEEF Greening STEM Hub: View examples of successful Greening STEM projects and learn strategies for adapting them for your community.
• How One NEEF Grant Kickstarted an Idaho Student’s STEM Career: Hear how one Greening STEM project helped a rural student find her calling as a biologist.
• Explore Career Opportunities in Environmental Science: Learn how a background in STEM and a passion for the outdoors can prepare you for a career in environmental science.