Migration of Recent College Graduates: Rurality of Destination and Reason for Move

Ruth E. Heuer, RTI International

This research examines the effects of education, employment, and background characteristics on the migration of recent bachelor degree recipients. The Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B:2000/2001) data are used to answer the following questions: Are recent college graduates migrating to rural or urban areas? Are they citing employment or quality of life reasons for migrating? Approximately one-half of the sample had migrated. Those who migrated live, on average, about 450 miles from where they lived during high school. Recent graduates tend to migrate to metropolitan areas, although certain characteristics (e.g., older graduates, those who are married, have children, and those raised in a rural area or small town) are associated with migration to nonmetropolitan areas. Two-thirds cited employment reasons for migrating, although those in certain high demand fields, those currently enrolled, singles, males, and those raised in nonmetropolitan areas were more likely than their counterparts to cite quality of life reasons.