By Jules Lindgren
Nearly half of all BYU graduates will stay in Utah after they graduate, according to a new survey released by the Utah Foundation.
The non-profit, non-advocacy research organization reports a total of 60 percent of college graduates staying statewide.
Utah residents make up a big portion of those who stay, but 39 percent of out-of-state students linger here, too.
Originally from San Diego, Calif., Wendy Hernandez swore she would never live here ? ever. Now, the 25-year-old humanities major said she will likely stay 10 or 15 years after she graduates.
?I love San Diego, but I just like the atmosphere,? she said. ?Everybody has common beliefs, it?s more relaxed. It?s not crazy traffic all the time and go, go, go.?
The research shows public colleges retain 76 percent of Utah residents and 46 percent of non-residents.
Private colleges, on the other hand, only retain 54 percent of their Utah students and 42 percent of out-of-state students.
Still, that?s 46 percent of BYU students who will end up living in Utah after they graduate.
Stephen Kroes, executive director of the Utah Foundation, said the biggest reasons people stay in Utah have to do with quality of life ? good communities, excellent recreational activities, family relations and low cost of living.
However, Utah is not known for having ample placement for graduates in high-quality, high-paying jobs. Kroe said the state?s weakness in retaining graduates stems from a lack of variety in advanced degrees and weak networking opportunities.
?It?s an attractive place to live, but the economy is making it a little bit harder to stay in Utah,? he said.
He said it?s likely that the fact that so many people want to stay in Utah drives wages down, creating a surplus of qualified employees.
While wages may be lower, so is the cost of living.
The research shows that the most important factor for Utahns in deciding where to live is the cost of living. Family is in the number two spot.
?I wouldn?t stay, except my fianc?e wants to, and I?ll stay with him I guess,? said Marissa Minton, 19, a physical education teaching and coaching major, from Hesperia, Calif. ?I?m happy where he?s happy.?
