Willing to Relocate?

By Jayne Harris

Thousands of graduates nationwide have turned their tassels, hung up their cap and gown, and already moved out of their college apartments.  Some have landed jobs in the area, some have relocated out-of-state for a job, and some are living at home again - hello curfew!  Yahoo! Finance republished an article from the Atlantic magazine detailing the top cities for college grads...and not a single city in the mid-west made the list.

Raleigh, North Carolina was the closest city on the list to Indiana and it's approximately 11 hours away - does this mean we'll start seeing mass migration of grads?  The article emphasized the percentage of residents with a college degree as the main ranking factor, one that should be considered, but in conjunction with the cost of living and job opportunities.  The article can't give a single good reason for living in #8, Riverside, California other than the weather!  After reading through the reasoning for including each city on the list and considering the distance of each city from Indiana, I found this list far more reasonable and appropriate for mid-west grads (even if it is a couple of years out of date).

The CNN list ranks cities that are much closer to Indiana, with Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati making the list.  Additionally, this list provides the average cost of rent for each city - practical information that may actually be considered, as for most of us the weather won't be a definitive factor when a job offer is on the table.  Already the clear favorite, the CNN list triumphs again with it's fantastic #1 pick - Indianapolis, Indiana.  Indy boasts the cheapest rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $625/month in addition to being close to home for many who aren't quite ready to live on the other side of the country.

There you have it, evidence that 'top cities for grads' are actually all over the nation, making these lists quite subjective.  Job offers may come up all over the country, but it seems clear that graduates can stay as close to home as is comfortable - and if that happens to be Riverside, CA, at the least you'll have a fantastic tan.

Week Two at LACD:  Editing the career handbook is now completely underway and progress is being made at a steady pace.  I'm starting to really grasp what Lisa is looking for and understanding how LACD can benefit students - it's a wonderful resource that all CLA students should utilize!