Broad-access institutions (BAIs) play an important role in expanding educational opportunities and promoting upward mobility; however, not all communities have equal access to BAIs. This inequality affects where students go to college--it even affects how they get there, how much they pay, and whether they complete their degrees. This brief considers how geography is linked to major policy issues including tuition and affordability, transportation and technology, college access and choice, along with college completion and workforce development. Using data from federal governmental sources, this brief differentiates small-population areas from large-population areas to show how both rural and urban areas face geographic inequalities. It shows how many communities are located on state borders and discusses the implications these cross-border places have on BAIs. This brief also identifies places with only one BAI to showcase the role these anchor institutions play in expanding opportunities in their regions. Outlined are some of the potential policy and research areas that hold promise, and a promising framework is offered--geography of opportunity--to help researchers and policymakers imagine new ways of thinking about college access, affordability, basic needs, and student success.