Over the past 15 years, 1.5 million more people have left California than have moved here from other states, according to estimates from the California Department of Finance. Remarkably, even in the face of this outflow, California still experiences net gains of college graduates (those with at least a bachelor’s degree). Over the past five years, California ranks second among all states in net gains of college graduates from other states, even as it ranks first in net losses of less educated adults.
From a demographic perspective, these patterns are unprecedented. In contrast to California, other states that gain large numbers of college graduates, such as Texas and Florida, also gain large numbers of less-educated residents. And states that lose large numbers of less-educated residents, such as New York and Illinois, also lose large numbers of college graduates. California is unique in gaining large numbers of college graduates while losing large numbers of less educated adults.
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