People who don’t go to college are getting sicker and dying younger. That’s the reality playing out in a region of southeastern Missouri known as the Bootheel, one of many poverty-stricken rural areas across the country where few residents have four-year degrees.

Research has shown that education makes a difference in terms of health outcomes: Get a college degree, and you’re more likely to lead a healthier and more prosperous life. Go without, and, for a number of reasons, you’re more likely to face a range of health problems.

That growing body of scholarship inspired a recent Chronicle article, "A Dying Town," which explored the ominous connections between education and health, and how disadvantages pile up in places like the Bootheel.

The health gulf between those who get a college degree and those who don’t is widening. So what can colleges actually do about it? We posed that question to several experts in health, education, and economics, as well as to some college leaders. Here’s what they said:

  1. Devote Resources to Serving More Low-Income Students
  2. Stop Ignoring the Needs of Rural America
  3. Focus on Research-Based Strategies
  4. Support Efforts to Improve Your Community’s Health
  5. Recognize Racial Disparities in Health Outcomes
  6. Acknowledge How Your Practices Contribute to Inequality
  7. Emphasize Retention and Meeting Employers’ Needs

Read more about the widening health gap between people with and without a college education at The Chronicle of Higher Education