California is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of students leaving the state for college. In 2022, nearly 24,000 college-bound high school graduates chose out-of-state schools—a staggering 15% of the total. This marks a nearly fourfold increase from the 8.5% recorded in 2002.
The data, published by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), points to systemic problems within the state’s higher education system. The outflow includes students from all academic backgrounds, not just top performers. Many are enrolling in schools with less competitive admissions in neighboring states such as Arizona and Oregon. Institutions like Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and University of Oregon have become leading destinations for these students.
Factors driving this exodus include rising tuition costs, overcrowded campuses, administrative red tape, and concerns over campus climate. California’s public university system, once viewed as a national model, now faces criticism for being increasingly inaccessible and unwelcoming to a diversity of perspectives.
As more families seek practical and affordable education options, many view out-of-state colleges as a better fit. The long-term risk for California is significant: if graduates establish careers and families outside the state, the local economy and civic life will feel the loss. The trend also highlights a growing demand for educational environments that prioritize academic freedom, fiscal responsibility, and open discourse.
Leaders and institutions in California now face a critical challenge. Without meaningful reforms to improve access, affordability, and trust in the education system, the state may continue to lose its next generation of workers, professionals, and innovators.
