Equitable access to higher education remains a national priority. CARA is contributing to this policy conversation by providing content matter expertise and high-resolution mapping. In this Editorial in the Australian Journal of Rural Health we compared access to traditional university campus locations with the extra opportunities provided by the burgeoning network of Regional University Study Hubs (RUSH). As well as highlighting where higher education access has been augmented, it provides a method that can guide strategic planning efforts such as the location of future RUSHs to optimise reach for priority communities.