CorrelateAI › Pairs
US Rural Population vs US College Enrollment
US Rural Population and US College Enrollment correlate at r = -0.93 over 39 years (1971–2022), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.26. Likely spurious (shared time trend).
Verdict: Likely spurious (shared time trend). Both series mostly just trend over time. After removing that trend the correlation collapses to -0.26 — the relationship is probably coincidental, not causal.
- Pearson r
- -0.93
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 39 (1971–2022)
- 95% confidence interval
- -0.96 to -0.87
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- -0.26
Sources
- US Rural Population (% of total): World Bank. US Rural Population (World Bank indicator SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS).
- US College Enrollment (% gross): World Bank. US College Enrollment (World Bank indicator SE.TER.ENRR).
Related pairs
- US Rural Population vs US Urban Population (r = -1.00)
- US Population vs US Rural Population (r = -0.97)
- US Nuclear Power Generation vs US College Enrollment (r = +0.97)
- US Median Age vs US College Enrollment (r = +0.96)
- US Adult Obesity vs US Rural Population (r = -0.95)
- US Median Age vs US Rural Population (r = -0.95)
Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.