The states where students are most and least likely to leave home for college, ranked
A Business Insider analysis of US Department of Education data reveals that 19.1% of first-time college students enroll in out-of-state institutions. The report ranks all 50 states by their out-of-state enrollment rates, highlighting California as the state with the lowest migration and Vermont as the highest.
Why it matters
Understanding student migration patterns helps institutions and policymakers address regional disparities in education access, tuition costs, and degree program availability.
California has the lowest student migration rate in the US. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto Of 2.93 million first-time college students across the US, 19.1% enroll in out-of-state schools. California has the lowest rate of students enrolling out-of-state, while Vermont has the highest. Factors such as cost, degree programs, and campus life can lead students to enroll out-of-state. As summer's end nears, many young adults — and their soon-to-be- empty-nester parents — are starting to pack up suitcases and buy dorm furniture as they prepare to move away for college . Whether they're looking for specialized degree programs , school prestige , affordable tuition , broader networking opportunities, or a more distinctive campus experience , many students will soon be attending college across state lines from their parents.
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