Migration of Recent College Graduates

Abstract

This research examines the effects of education, employment, and background characteristics on the migration of a recent cohort of bachelor degree recipients. The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:2000) data and the Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B:2000/2001) data are used to address the following questions: Who migrates after graduating from college? Do they migrate to rural or urban areas? How far do they migrate? Are they citing employment or quality of life reasons for migrating?

Approximately one-half of the sample of recent college graduates were living more than 50 miles from where they lived when they completed high school. Those who migrated live, on average, about 450 miles from where they attended high school. In general, recent graduates tend to migrate to metropolitan areas, although certain characteristics (e.g., older graduates, those who are married, those who have children, and those who grew up in a rural area or small town) are associated with migration to nonmetropolitan areas. Similarly, most recent graduates cited employment reasons for migrating, although those in certain high demand fields, those currently enrolled, singles, males, and younger graduates were more likely than their counterparts to cite quality of life reasons.