Community colleges in all areas of the country offer students opportunities for postsecondary education that they might not otherwise have. The nearly 600 community colleges that serve rural communities play a special role in providing access, one that the author believes deserves greater understanding and recognition. He shares some of what he has learned about rural community colleges through his studies as a higher-education professor and field visits to more than 350 community colleges in 35 states: (1) Rural community colleges play a crucial role in the education of students in their regions; (2) A commitment to access is reflected in the students that rural community colleges serve; (3) Rural community colleges are also committed to building sustainable communities and regions; and (4) Rural community colleges build especially strong linkages with elementary and secondary education.