According to a study by the medical school admission consulting firm Inspira Advantage, Illinois has the fourth-lowest rate of student migration in the United States. Student migration is the movement of students who study outside of their state or country.
The study was conducted using enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The data collected was from fall 2022 enrollment to colleges and universities in the state. The data only takes into account the residence and migration of first-time degree-seeking undergraduates.
The data was analysed to see if there were any differences in student migration patterns across each U.S. state. From their study, Inspira Advantage found noteworthy disparities in how states attract and keep college students.
“These migration patterns reveal fascinating trends in how students select their educational institutions. States like Utah and Arizona have created educational environments that not only keep their residents but also attract significant numbers of students from out-of-state,” said Inspira Advantage Co-founder Arush Chandna.
Chandna also believes the data created by their study can help states with low student migration to try to increase their migration.
“States with low student migration ratios should consider examining what factors drive their students to seek education elsewhere. Migration can have long-term economic implications for their workforce development and could impact students coming to their state for higher education in the future,” said Chandna.
The study was conducted by calculating the student migration ratio. This was done by comparing the number of students who moved into the state to study to the number of students who moved out of the state at the start of the academic year.
The student migration ratio of Illinois is 0.51:1. This means that for every 0.51 students who entered the state, one student left the state. Illinois saw 18,369 students enter the state and 35,884 leave – 20.09% of college students in Illinois came from out-of-state and 67.09% of students seeking higher education in Illinois chose to stay in-state.
The state with the lowest migration ratio is Alaska with 0.15 students entering for each student leaving. According to the data, Alaska had 292 students enter the state to pursue higher education while 2,009 left the state. Out of Alaska’s total college student population, 13.30% came from out-of-state and 51.34% of students stayed in-state.
New Jersey, with a ratio of .20:1, is the state with the second-lowest migration ratio. In fall 2022, New Jersey attracted 6,914 out-of-state students, with 34,867 leaving the state. In total, 11.33% of college students came from out-of-state and 60.80% of New Jersey students stayed in-state to pursue higher education.
Nevada has the third-lowest student migration ratio, at 0.33:1. It took in 1,705 students from out-of-state and had 5,104 leave. In total, 10.50% of Nevada’s college students came from out-of-state, making it the second-lowest percentage of out-of-state students. 74.02% of students stayed in-state.
Maryland, Texas and Illinois are all tied for fourth-lowest student migration ratio at 0.51:1. Maryland had 9,393 out-of-state students while 18,491 students left for other states. Out of Maryland’s total student population, 22.69% came from out-of-state and 63.38% of Maryland students stayed in-state.
Texas had 19,538 students entering the state in 2022, with 38,282 leaving. Texas has the lowest percentage of out-of-state students at 8.11%. It also has the highest retention rate at 91.89%.
Minnesota has the fifth-lowest student migration ratio at 0.53:1 as 8,753 students entered the state while 16,387 left it. Additionally, 22.09% of students were from out-of-state and 65.33% of students stayed in-state.
Top States with Lowest Student Migration Ratio
| Rank | State | Students Entering | Students Leaving | % Students from Out of State | % Residents Staying In-State | Student Migration Ratio |
| 1. | Alaska | 292 | 2,009 | 13.30% | 48.66% | 0.15 |
| 2. | New Jersey | 6,914 | 34,867 | 11.33% | 60.80% | 0.20 |
| 3. | Nevada | 1,705 | 5,104 | 10.50% | 74.02% | 0.33 |
| 4(=). | Maryland | 9,392 | 18,491 | 22.69% | 63.38% | 0.51 |
| 4(=). | Texas | 19,538 | 38,282 | 8.11% | 85.25% | 0.51 |
| 4(=). | Illinois | 18,369 | 35,844 | 20.09% | 67.09% | 0.51 |
| 5. | Minnesota | 8,753 | 16,387 | 22.09% | 65.33% | 0.53 |
The state with the highest student migration ratio is Utah with a 4.56:1 ratio with 13,696 students entering the state in 2022 and 3,004 leaving – 36.88% of students in Utah came from out-of-state and 88.64% stayed in-state.
Arizona is the second highest with a ratio of 3.83:1 as 29,008 students entered from out-of-state and 7,582 left. 39.66% of students were from out-of-state and 85.34% stayed in-state.
West Virginia has the third highest student migration ratio at 3.67:1. 7,048 students entered from out-of-state while 1,919 students left. 43.84% of students came from out-of-state and 82.47% stayed in-state.
New Hampshire has the fourth-highest student migration ratio at 3.65:1. New Hampshire saw 18,093 students enter their state in 2022 and 4,958 leave. 78.58% of students were from out-of-state. 49.87% of New Hampshire students stayed in-state.
Lastly, Iowa has the fifth highest student migration ratio at 3.10:1. It had 12,038 students from out-of-state and lost 3,882 students in 2022 to other states. 35.73% of their college students came from out-of-state while 84.80% stayed in-state.
Top States with the Highest Student Migration Ratio
| Rank | State | Students Entering | Students Leaving | % Students from Out of State | % Residents Staying In-State | Student Migration Ratio |
| 1. | Utah | 13,696 | 3,004 | 36.88% | 88.64% | 4.56 |
| 2. | Arizona | 29,008 | 7,582 | 39.66% | 85.34% | 3.83 |
| 3. | West Virginia | 7,048 | 1,919 | 43.84% | 82.47% | 3.67 |
| 4. | New Hampshire | 18,093 | 4,958 | 78.58% | 49.87% | 3.65 |
| 5. | Iowa | 12,038 | 3,882 | 35.73% | 84.80% | 3.10 |
Complete State Rankings by Student Migration Ratio
| Rank | State | Students Entering | Students Leaving | % Students from Out of State | % Residents Staying In-State | Student Migration Ratio |
| 1. | Utah | 13,696 | 3,004 | 36.88% | 88.64% | 4.56 |
| 2. | Arizona | 29,008 | 7,582 | 39.66% | 85.34% | 3.83 |
| 3. | West Virginia | 7,048 | 1,919 | 43.84% | 82.47% | 3.67 |
| 4. | New Hampshire | 18,093 | 4,958 | 78.58% | 49.87% | 3.65 |
| 5. | Iowa | 12,038 | 3,882 | 35.73% | 84.80% | 3.10 |
| 6. | Rhode Island | 8,962 | 2,935 | 60.29% | 66.79% | 3.05 |
| 7. | North Dakota | 4,230 | 1,507 | 50.51% | 73.34% | 2.81 |
| 8. | Alabama | 15,092 | 5,555 | 31.71% | 85.40% | 2.72 |
| 9. | Mississippi | 7,406 | 2,916 | 27.50% | 87.00% | 2.54 |
| 10. | Indiana | 20,947 | 8,345 | 32.78% | 83.73% | 2.51 |
| 11. | Vermont | 5,073 | 2,089 | 74.49% | 45.40% | 2.43 |
| 12. | Arkansas | 8,286 | 3,721 | 31.74% | 82.73% | 2.23 |
| 13. | Montana | 3,970 | 1,912 | 45.39% | 71.41% | 2.08 |
| 14. | South Carolina | 13,495 | 6,515 | 29.13% | 83.44% | 2.07 |
| 15. | South Dakota | 3,682 | 1,846 | 41.75% | 73.57% | 1.99 |
| 16. | Kansas | 8,729 | 4,756 | 30.58% | 80.64% | 1.84 |
| 17. | Delaware | 4,728 | 2,888 | 49.45% | 62.60% | 1.64 |
| 18. | Idaho | 6,197 | 3,795 | 39.66% | 71.30% | 1.63 |
| 19. | Oregon | 10,088 | 6,412 | 30.49% | 78.20% | 1.57 |
| 20(=). | Maine | 4,488 | 2,868 | 38.28% | 71.62% | 1.56 |
| 20(=). | Tennessee | 16,182 | 10,351 | 29.02% | 79.27% | 1.56 |
| 21(=). | Pennsylvania | 35,176 | 22,634 | 32.95% | 75.98% | 1.55 |
| 21(=). | Wyoming | 1,772 | 1,146 | 36.22% | 73.14% | 1.55 |
| 22(=). | Oklahoma | 7,384 | 4,851 | 23.96% | 82.85% | 1.52 |
| 22(=). | Ohio | 22,796 | 15,012 | 24.25% | 82.59% | 1.52 |
| 23. | Kentucky | 8,567 | 5,755 | 22.95% | 83.33% | 1.49 |
| 24. | Wisconsin | 13,880 | 9,448 | 28.07% | 79.01% | 1.47 |
| 25. | North Carolina | 17,886 | 12,276 | 21.38% | 84.27% | 1.46 |
| 26. | Florida | 31,537 | 21,793 | 20.56% | 84.83% | 1.45 |
| 27. | Louisiana | 8,169 | 5,868 | 20.87% | 84.07% | 1.39 |
| 28. | Massachusetts | 29,109 | 22,129 | 44.31% | 62.31% | 1.32 |
| 29. | Virginia | 19,522 | 16,045 | 24.91% | 78.58% | 1.22 |
| 30. | Michigan | 12,389 | 10,202 | 16.52% | 85.99% | 1.21 |
| 31. | New York | 44,063 | 36,967 | 26.13% | 77.12% | 1.19 |
| 32. | Colorado | 15,021 | 13,824 | 33.66% | 68.17% | 1.09 |
| 33(=). | Missouri | 11,308 | 10,636 | 25.01% | 76.12% | 1.06 |
| 33(=). | Nebraska | 4,654 | 4,411 | 25.95% | 75.06% | 1.06 |
| 34. | New Mexico | 2,775 | 3,044 | 17.34% | 81.29% | 0.91 |
| 35. | California | 40,554 | 46,041 | 11.16% | 87.52% | 0.88 |
| 36. | Connecticut | 11,867 | 14,528 | 38.57% | 56.54% | 0.82 |
| 37. | Georgia | 16,302 | 20,280 | 20.06% | 76.21% | 0.80 |
| 38. | Hawaii | 2,872 | 4,236 | 33.32% | 57.57% | 0.68 |
| 39. | Washington | 8,671 | 14,714 | 17.03% | 74.17% | 0.59 |
| 40. | Minnesota | 8,753 | 16,387 | 22.09% | 65.33% | 0.53 |
| 41(=). | Illinois | 18,369 | 35,844 | 20.09% | 67.09% | 0.51 |
| 41(=). | Texas | 19,538 | 38,282 | 8.11% | 85.25% | 0.51 |
| 41(=). | Maryland | 9,392 | 18,491 | 22.69% | 63.38% | 0.51 |
| 42. | Nevada | 1,705 | 5,104 | 10.50% | 74.02% | 0.33 |
| 43. | New Jersey | 6,914 | 34,867 | 11.33% | 60.80% | 0.20 |
| 44. | Alaska | 292 | 2,009 | 13.30% | 48.66% | 0.15 |
