New Jersey Addressing Nation-Leading 'College Flight'

A Philadelphia Inquirer blog post details what it calls a "brain drain" problem in the state of New Jersey—where more residents go out of state for college than in any other state.

1 minute read

July 24, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"New Jersey continues to be the state with the largest 'brain drain' of college students," according to the post. The article cites new data released by the National Center for Education Statistics.

"More than 30,000 New Jerseyans leave the state to attend college each year," but "only a few thousand students enter the state for college."

State legislators, concerned that those fleeing the state for college might never return to join the workforce, "are trying to increase the capacities at the state’s (already full) colleges, increase the possibilities of transferring from two-year colleges, and create more jobs for those who have graduated."

Voters too, have bought-in on investments that could stem the tide of what I'm calling "college flight" to distinguish from the popular definition of "brain drain" as the out-migration of college-educated adults: "In 2012, voters approved a bond referendum that, combined with other state funds, created a $1.3 billion pot for capital projects at the state’s colleges and universities."

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in Philadelphia Inquirer

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