When a college is located in a rural area, its input to that community includes social, economic, political, psychological, and physical factors. The prime purpose of this study was to describe the socioeconomic impact of the college on rural communities of New York State, particularly the New York State University College at Alfred (small village) and at Cortland (rural city, 19,181 pop.) and to predict institution-related inputs which were basic to this impact. The interaction and incidence of this input were studied relative to economic factors (purchases of food, clothing, furniture, amusement, and housing); to social factors (politics, local policy, and social ties); and enrollment and commutation of students. Some of the findings were: input for staff members varied with town size in public colleges but was high in private colleges; the proportion of local students commuting varied with surrounding areas but dropped to zero at 35 miles; college purchasing dollars were diffused into the surrounding area particularly when a small town was near a large city; and the college has impact on the town; the town, on the region; and conversely regional development affects the town and the city. (This document will be available from University Microfilms.) (PT)