Reports looks at how students decide to attend an out of state college

Posted on June 16, 2023
ISU Quad
Collaborative director Meg Bates said they asked students leaving the state what would get them to stay in Illinois. (WJBC File Photo)

By IIS Radio

SPRINGFIELD – A recent report looks at the reasons why students choose to go out of state for college.

The Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative surveyed 1,200 high school seniors who planned on going to a four-year college. Overall, there were four main factors students considered: cost, location, academic reputation and social environment.

Collaborative director Meg Bates said they asked students leaving the state what would get them to stay in Illinois.

“We saw that the top three things they noted that would’ve encouraged them to stay were lower tuition, better quality of colleges and more financial aid. So those are the levers for change for this out migration issue,” said Bates.

Bates said “leavers” are also more likely to look at a school’s social environment and athletics, while students staying in-state put the most emphasis on cost and the opinion of family and friends.

The report can be found here.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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