2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Educational Attainment's Role in Dynamic Migration Patterns

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kelly Chen

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between educational attainment and out-migration from U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) among young renters aged 18–30 over the period 2005–2024. Using individual-level microdata from the American Community Survey (ACS), U.S. Census and a binary logit framework, we estimate the effect of college graduation on the propensity to migrate out of one's current MSA. Our sample is restricted to renters across all U.S. MSAs, with particular emphasis on the young adult population in the typical post-graduation age range. We find that college graduation is associated with a significantly higher likelihood of out-migration relative to non-graduates, consistent with the notion that higher education increases geographic labor market flexibility and job-search radius. Importantly, however, we document that this effect has declined steadily over the sample period, suggesting that the migration premium associated with college graduation has eroded over time. These findings contribute to a growing literature on the geographic sorting of human capital and have implications for urban policy, housing markets, and regional economic development.

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