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    States Where Students Are Most Likely to Leave for College, Ranked

    Press RoomBy No Comments9 Mins Read

    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.

    Enrollment data from the US Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System measures the number of first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students residing in each state and documents which institutions those students enroll in — and where those institutions are located relative to the student’s permanent address at the time of application.

    The most recent release, documenting the fall of 2024, shows that of the over 2.93 million first-time students across all US states, 562,209, or 19.1%, enrolled at an out-of-state institution.

    Business Insider also compared out-of-state enrollment rates across state lines and ranked all 50 US states by the share of resident first-time students who enrolled outside their state. Using IPEDS data, we also calculated the most common destination state among residents who enrolled out of state.

    While the data and our calculations can help show the broader picture of student migration in many states, they do not capture the factors that led each student to enroll out of state, nor do they explicitly reflect how many students are physically moving their primary residence, since IPEDS data also includes online programs that may be located in states other than the student’s residence.

    See where your state ranked and where its out-of-state students most commonly enrolled.

    50. California


    Aerial view of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Silicon Valley, California, USA

    Palo Alto, California

    yujie chen/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 9.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 432,331

    Number of students leaving: 43,016

    Top destination: Arizona, with 5,537 students (12.9% of students going out-of-state)

    49. Utah


    Aerial view of Provo City, Utah, Y Mountain, Brigham Young University, and surrounded neighborhoods

    Provo City, Utah

    Brett Taylor/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 10.5%

    Number of resident first-time students: 33,175

    Number of students leaving: 3,497

    Top destination: Idaho, with 1,038 students (29.7% of students going out-of-state)

    48. Michigan


    Aerial view of the diverse architecture of Downtown Ann Arbor, capturing the University of Michigan campus in vibrant autumn hues.

    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Nicholas Klein/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 12.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 82,242

    Number of students leaving: 10,185

    Top destination: Ohio, with 2,276 students (22.3% of students going out-of-state)

    47. Arizona


    Tempe, Arizona, USA Drone Skyline Aerial Panorama

    Tempe, Arizona.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 12.8%

    Number of resident first-time students: 59,989

    Number of students leaving: 7,695

    Top destination: California, with 933 students (12.1% of students going out-of-state)

    46. Mississippi


    Hattiesburg, MS - June 2, 2025: Entrance to the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi

    Hattiesburg, Mississippi

    CRobertson/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 13.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 24,451

    Number of students leaving: 3,222

    Top destination: Alabama, with 614 students (19.1% of students going out-of-state)

    45. Florida


    Aerial view of the unversity of Florida campass in Gainesville Florida photograph taken Feb 2021

    Gainesville, Florida

    6381380/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 13.3%

    Number of resident first-time students: 179,229

    Number of students leaving: 23,780

    Top destination: Georgia, with 2,220 students (9.3% of students going out-of-state)

    44. Oklahoma


    Tulsa, OK, USA - March 10, 2026: Aerial view of University of Tulsa campus with Chapman Stadium and surrounding residential neighborhoods in Tulsa Oklahoma

    Tulsa, Oklahoma

    GummyBone/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 14.1%

    Number of resident first-time students: 35,946

    Number of students leaving: 5,082

    Top destination: Kansas, with 1,008 students (19.8% of students going out-of-state)

    43. Texas


    Aerial View of a large public State University in Austin, Texas

    Austin, Texas

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 14.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 294,363

    Number of students leaving: 41,772

    Top destination: Oklahoma, with 4,796 students (11.5% of students going out-of-state)

    42. Alabama


    Aerial View of the Town and University of Auburn, Alabama

    Auburn, Alabama

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 14.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 40,085

    Number of students leaving: 5,701

    Top destination: Mississippi, with 935 students (16.4% of students going out-of-state)

    41. Louisiana


    Aerial view of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Mississippi River

    Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    CrackerClips/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 14.8%

    Number of resident first-time students: 41,892

    Number of students leaving: 6,186

    Top destination: Mississippi, with 1,090 students (17.6% of students going out-of-state)

    40. Iowa


    Aerial panoramic view of Old Capitol and surrounding University of Iowa campus buildings.

    Iowa City, Iowa

    GummyBone/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 15.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 26,979

    Number of students leaving: 4,144

    Top destination: South Dakota, with 529 students (12.8% of students going out-of-state)

    39. North Carolina


    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Downtown Skyline.

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina

    Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 15.5%

    Number of resident first-time students: 83,293

    Number of students leaving: 12,920

    Top destination: Virginia, with 1,953 students (15.1% of students going out-of-state)

    38. Ohio


    Aerial view of Columbus Ohio

    Columbus, Ohio

    espiegle/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 15.8%

    Number of resident first-time students: 95,533

    Number of students leaving: 15,141

    Top destination: Indiana, with 1,769 students (11.7% of students going out-of-state)

    37. Indiana


    Bloomington, United States — August 04, 2025: Aerial view of College Campus dormitories on the Indiana University campus.

    Bloomington, Indiana

    Wirestock/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 16.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 56,069

    Number of students leaving: 9,288

    Top destination: Ohio, with 1,851 students (19.9% of students going out-of-state)

    36. Kentucky


    Aerial view of downtown Lexington and the campus os the local University of Kentucky

    Lexington, Kentucky

    Ivelin Denev/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 16.8%

    Number of resident first-time students: 38,910

    Number of students leaving: 6,535

    Top destination: Ohio, with 1,411 students (21.6% of students going out-of-state)

    35. New Mexico


    Univeristy of New Mexico Campus viewed from a drone, showing Central Avenye and University Blvd

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Aaron Seltzer/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 17.1%

    Number of resident first-time students: 17,756

    Number of students leaving: 3,028

    Top destination: Texas, with 586 students (19.4% of students going out-of-state)

    34. South Carolina


    Drone Aerial of Main Street in Downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

    Spartanburg, South Carolina

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 17.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 42,179

    Number of students leaving: 7,236

    Top destination: North Carolina, with 1,671 students (23.1% of students going out-of-state)

    33. Arkansas


    Aerial shot of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Rdlamkin/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 17.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 22,786

    Number of students leaving: 3,921

    Top destination: Missouri, with 475 students (12.1% of students going out-of-state)

    32. Kansas


    Aerial View of Wichita State University during Summer Break

    Wichita, Kansas

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 17.5%

    Number of resident first-time students: 26,488

    Number of students leaving: 4,633

    Top destination: Missouri, with 1,286 students (27.8% of students going out-of-state)

    31. West Virginia


    Aerial drone panoramic shot of the downtown campus of WVU in Morgantown West Virginia showing the river in the distance

    Morgantown, West Virginia

    BackyardProduction/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 19.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 12,314

    Number of students leaving: 2,359

    Top destination: Ohio, with 529 students (22.4% of students going out-of-state)

    30. Nebraska


    Drone view of the UNK Loper Campus in Kearney

    Kearney, Nebraska

    Aaron Seltzer/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 19.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 18,209

    Number of students leaving: 3,564

    Top destination: Iowa, with 680 students (19.1% of students going out-of-state)

    29. Tennessee


    Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Aerial view of American downtown office district. High commercial and residential skyscraper buildings in modern US city

    Nashville, Tennessee

    Bilanol/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 20.0%

    Number of resident first-time students: 58,199

    Number of students leaving: 11,667

    Top destination: Alabama, with 1,591 students (13.6% of students going out-of-state)

    28. Georgia


    Athens, Georgia, USA at dawn.

    Athens, Georgia

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 20.1%

    Number of resident first-time students: 98,471

    Number of students leaving: 19,835

    Top destination: Alabama, with 3,475 students (17.5% of students going out-of-state)

    27. Wisconsin


    Madison skyline and Wisconsin State Capitol. The Wisconsin State Capitol, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature, Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor.

    Madison, Wisconsin

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 20.3%

    Number of resident first-time students: 46,503

    Number of students leaving: 9,420

    Top destination: Minnesota, with 2,781 students (29.5% of students going out-of-state)

    26. Oregon


    Aerial View of a large Public University in Corvallis, Oregon

    Corvallis, Oregon

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 21.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 30,818

    Number of students leaving: 6,526

    Top destination: Washington, with 1,101 students (16.9% of students going out-of-state)

    25. Virginia


    An aerial view of Virginia Commonwealth University and the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia

    Richmond, Virginia

    Wirestock/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 21.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 76,703

    Number of students leaving: 16,448

    Top destination: North Carolina, with 1,627 students (9.9% of students going out-of-state)

    24. New York


    Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village Cityscape in New York City.

    New York, New York.

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 21.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 170,412

    Number of students leaving: 37,301

    Top destination: Pennsylvania, with 5,091 students (13.6% of students going out-of-state)

    23. Missouri


    Columbia, Missouri, USA downtown city skyline at twilight.

    Columbia, Missouri

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 22.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 46,624

    Number of students leaving: 10,555

    Top destination: Kansas, with 2,186 students (20.7% of students going out-of-state)

    22. Pennsylvania


    Aerial View of the Gettysburg College Campus With Fall Colors in Gettysburg Pennsylvania

    Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

    Kyle Little/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 22.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 100,007

    Number of students leaving: 22,644

    Top destination: New York, with 2,642 students (11.7% of students going out-of-state)

    21. Idaho


    Skyline of Boise, Idaho and the foothills

    Boise, Idaho

    christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 23.8%

    Number of resident first-time students: 15,636

    Number of students leaving: 3,716

    Top destination: Utah, with 1,106 students (29.8% of students going out-of-state)

    20. Nevada


    Aerial view of the University of Reno Nevada

    Reno, Nevada

    OwensImaging/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 24.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 23,982

    Number of students leaving: 5,906

    Top destination: California, with 964 students (16.3% of students going out-of-state)

    19. Maine


    Portland, Maine, USA downtown city skyline at dusk.

    Portland, Maine

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 25.0%

    Number of resident first-time students: 11,004

    Number of students leaving: 2,750

    Top destination: Massachusetts, with 658 students (23.9% of students going out-of-state)

    18. Washington


    Seattle, Washington, USA - September 19, 2013: Aerial panoramic view of Seattle University of Washington District Neighborhood, Mt Rainer, and Lake Washington

    Seattle, Washington

    SEASTOCK/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 25.1%

    Number of resident first-time students: 59,429

    Number of students leaving: 14,894

    Top destination: California, with 2,344 students (15.7% of students going out-of-state)

    17. South Dakota


    Aerial view of Rapid City, South Dakota. Rapid City is the county seat of Pennington County in South Dakota and the second most populous city in the state.

    Rapid City, South Dakota

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 25.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 7,298

    Number of students leaving: 1,840

    Top destination: Minnesota, with 319 students (17.3% of students going out-of-state)

    16. North Dakota


    Aerial View of a large Public University in Grand Forks, North Dakota

    Grand Forks, North Dakota

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 25.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 6,156

    Number of students leaving: 1,596

    Top destination: Minnesota, with 785 students (49.2% of students going out-of-state)

    15. Colorado


    Aerial View of a Large Public University in Boulder, Colorado

    Boulder, Colorado

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 27.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 49,104

    Number of students leaving: 13,561

    Top destination: Arizona, with 1,613 students (11.9% of students going out-of-state)

    14. Montana


    Aerial View of Downtown Bozeman, Montana in Summer

    Bozeman, Montana

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 27.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 7,316

    Number of students leaving: 2,042

    Top destination: North Dakota, with 211 students (10.3% of students going out-of-state)

    13. Wyoming


    A drone shot of Laramie Wyoming neighborhood's cityscape near University of Wyoming with farmland and sunlight

    Laramie. Wyoming

    Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 28.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 4,688

    Number of students leaving: 1,333

    Top destination: Utah, with 229 students (17.2% of students going out-of-state)

    12. Minnesota


    Aerial View of Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota during Summer

    St. Cloud, Minnesota

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 30.5%

    Number of resident first-time students: 53,053

    Number of students leaving: 16,172

    Top destination: Wisconsin, with 3,494 students (21.6% of students going out-of-state)

    11. Illinois


    Aerial View of a large University in the Chicago Neighborhood of Hyde Park

    Chicago, Illinois

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 31.3%

    Number of resident first-time students: 111,509

    Number of students leaving: 34,903

    Top destination: Wisconsin, with 4,183 students (12% of students going out-of-state)

    10. Rhode Island


    An aerial view of downtown Providence, Rhode Island RI, USA

    Providence, Rhode Island

    Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 32.1%

    Number of resident first-time students: 9,213

    Number of students leaving: 2,954

    Top destination: Massachusetts, with 962 students (32.6% of students going out-of-state)

    9. Massachusetts


    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) grounds aerial view. Research institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Cambridge, Massachusetts

    tupungato/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 33.5%

    Number of resident first-time students: 63,392

    Number of students leaving: 21,260

    Top destination: Rhode Island, with 2,716 students (12.8% of students going out-of-state)

    8. Maryland


    The Naval Academy Dome and the Maryland Statehouse buildings show up centered in the Annapolis Skyline

    Annapolis, Maryland

    ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 33.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 54,599

    Number of students leaving: 18,506

    Top destination: Pennsylvania, with 3,228 students (17.4% of students going out-of-state)

    7. Delaware


    Newark, DE, USA September 21, DuPont Hall on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark houses the schools construction and civil engineering department

    Newark, Delaware

    Kirkikis/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 34.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 9,209

    Number of students leaving: 3,166

    Top destination: Pennsylvania, with 1,043 students (32.9% of students going out-of-state)

    6. New Jersey


    A drone view of golden sunrise over Princeton New Jersey. Cityscape with famous landmarks, university, residential buildings and roads.

    Princeton, New Jersey

    Wirestock/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 35.6%

    Number of resident first-time students: 95,646

    Number of students leaving: 34,070

    Top destination: Pennsylvania, with 7,672 students (22.5% of students going out-of-state)

    5. Connecticut


    New Haven city downtown skyline cityscape of Connecticut, USA in autumn

    New Haven, Connecticut

    f11photo/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 38.4%

    Number of resident first-time students: 35,699

    Number of students leaving: 13,699

    Top destination: Massachusetts, with 2,738 students (20% of students going out-of-state)

    4. Hawaii


    Aerial view of Landmark Mid Pacific institute, University of Hawaii, and surround neighborhood in Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Honolulu, Hawaii

    Eric Broder Van Dyke/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 38.9%

    Number of resident first-time students: 10,296

    Number of students leaving: 4,000

    Top destination: California, with 862 students (21.6% of students going out-of-state)

    3. Alaska


    Aerial View of the State University Campus in Fairbanks, Alaska

    Fairbanks, Alaska

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Out-of-state rate: 42.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 4,303

    Number of students leaving: 1,817

    Top destination: Arizona, with 222 students (12.2% of students going out-of-state)

    2. New Hampshire


    Greenville, NH from the air

    Greenville, New Hampshire

    BackyardProduction/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 46.2%

    Number of resident first-time students: 10,094

    Number of students leaving: 4,663

    Top destination: Massachusetts, with 1,419 students (30.4% of students going out-of-state)

    1. Vermont


    Panoramic aerial view of the town of Stowe in Vermont in the fall

    Stowe, Vermont

    BackyardProduction/Getty Images

    Out-of-state rate: 53.3%

    Number of resident first-time students: 3,865

    Number of students leaving: 2,060

    Top destination: New York, with 406 students (19.7% of students going out-of-state)

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