What does Rural Mean Here

This is a fascinating topic. I'm a rural person (sort of), and I went to a residential campus that was in a small city. I am wondering what "rural" means in this situation. By it, might we mean places away from campus? Do we actually mean areas outside cities? Here's the OED definition:

• Of persons: Living in the country; having the standing, qualities, or manners of peasants or country-folk; engaged in country occupations; agricultural or pastoral.

In some ways, the rural, as defined here, is defined almost in oposition to the campus. Country occupations often keep one away rather than bring one to college. Do we mean off-campus or on campus? Let's nail down our key words before we go much further.