This issue brief summarizes the economic conditions in rural communities since the Great Recession and highlights the educational attainment of rural men. It then describes the barriers to attending college that rural men face and these promising efforts that Hinds Community College and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) have undertaken to help men gain the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the modern workforce: (1) Both institutions use scholarships to encourage students to enroll and complete their studies. Simply getting students on campus can have a tremendous impact on their long-term success; (2) Both institutions recognize that students need guidance and assistance once enrolled, such as with mentors, apprenticeship programs, and wrap-around services to support basic needs; (3) Both institutions have crafted programs with the goal of finding students jobs in high-demand fields in their home state. Higher education benefits job seekers and improves income, job security, and knowledge transfer. It also encourages civic and community engagement that is as essential in rural areas as it is everywhere. The authors hope that this paper will serve as a foundation for further discussions and greater inquiry into the attainment disparities affecting men in the rural United States and what can be done to address this challenge. [This report was written with Allison Beer and Marcia Calloway.]