59.8% of Wisconsin-born adults ages 31 to 40 living out of state hold at least a bachelor’s degree, versus 45.2% of same-age newcomers to Wisconsin—a 14.6-point gap that ranks second-worst nationally.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum said the state still added population from 2020 to 2024, but those leaving tended to be more educated than those moving in, deepening concern over talent retention.
Minnesota drew 17.8% of Wisconsin’s college-educated leavers, while California, Colorado and Texas also posted net gains from the state; Wisconsin offset some losses with gains from Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri.
Only North Dakota ranked worse, and Illinois was the Midwest’s lone state with a net gain of highly educated residents, underscoring a regional competition for degree-holding workers.
Wisconsin still ranks 16th nationally by the share of 31- to 40-year-old U.S.-born residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher, but the report said retaining and attracting graduates will matter more as degree-required jobs grow.