Four-Year Degree Students Outmigration Grows

BY FARMWEEKNOW.COM STAFF

Nearly half of Illinois’ high school graduates pursuing four-year degrees enrolled in other states’ colleges in 2017, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) reported Tuesday.

Of public high school graduates enrolled in four-year institutions, 48.4 percent enrolled in an out-of-state institution in 2017, up from 46.6 percent in 2016.

Among all Illinois public high school graduates, about one in five, or 20.3 percent, enrolled in an out-of-state college or university.

“The outmigration trend continues to increase, and that means we’re not only losing students to out-of-state colleges and universities, we’re likely losing them to other states for good,” Nyle Robinson, interim IBHE executive director, said in a prepared statement.

Community college enrollment proved a bright spot and the only noticeable enrollment growth. In 2017, public high school grad enrollment increased by 2,477, compared to the previous year.