Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) examined metrics for each state, including student migration, ranking which states retain the most students for higher education within their current state, and which attract the most out-of-state students.
NCES analyzed the number of students enrolling from out-of-state. Number of students enrolling from within the state. The percentage of state residents enrolling in institutions outside the state and the percentage of state residents enrolling in institutions inside the state.
Utah ranks first, and Vermont has the lowest percentage of students staying in-state.
Florida Findings:
Florida ranks eighth in the U.S. for the percentage of students staying in-state for college. Out of 143,620 Florida students enrolled in college, 121,827 chose to attend schools within the state. That’s around 85% staying local, showing that most Florida students prefer to pursue higher education close to home.
Arush Chandna, who works with the medical school admissions consulting firm Inspira Advantage, examined the data and noted that the migration patterns reveal fascinating trends in how students choose their educational institutions. States like Florida have created educational environments that encourage their residents to stay in their hometowns for higher education.
“These findings show significant regional differences in how students approach college decisions. States with high retention rates typically offer strong public university systems with favorable in-state tuition rates that make staying local financially attractive, and states with lower retention rates often have smaller populations or are located near educational hubs in neighboring states. Students from these areas might find more diverse program offerings just across state line,’ said Chandna.
Chandna also noted that the patterns of student migration have significant implications for state education policies, funding models, and enrollment strategies for colleges and universities.
