Studies on U.S. rural youth indicate current regional and ethnic diversity; limited rural-urban differences; and some limited social change in terms of values, needs, and aspirations. The size of the rural youth population is considerable (25,013,948 out of a total youth population of 93,313,518 in 1970). The majority of rural youth are white (85%) and concentrated in the southern states; blacks constitute the second largest proportion, but rural American Indian youth constitute one-third of the total Indian population. Significant cultural and social variations have been observed in studies reflecting occupational aspiration differentials among rural youth of ethnic groups living in comparable areas. Prior to 1950, rural youth differed qualitatively from urban youth in their occupational aspirations and were not generally college oriented. By the late sixties, rural youth had adopted the success ethic of the middle class, and current available evidence indicates U.S. rural and urban youth do not differ significantly in their basic values and aspirations, though some scattered research indicates rural youth may differ generally in social behavior patterns, cognitive skill development, and normative roles. Longitudinal studies indicate a shift in the values of rural youth (lowered occupational/educational aspirations, earlier marriage and smaller families, and decreased urban migration). The development of rural youth should center upon policy aimed at educational equalization. (JC)