State Preference Match
Among college-enrolled ACT-tested students, 90% with an in-state college preference and 52% with an out-of-state college preference enrolled at a college that matches their preference.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled In State and Out of State by State Preference and State ACT Participation Rate, 2012
- As state ACT participation rate increases, so does the share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches their in-state preference.
- Conversely, the share of ACT‑tested students who attend a college that matches their out-of-state preference decreases as state ACT participation rate increases.
- Statewide administration states are an exception to these patterns.
Graph reads: 53% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students from states administering the ACT statewide who preferred to attend an out-of-state college attend an in-state college instead.
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference is available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| State ACT Participation Rate | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 85% | 15% |
| 26%–50% | 90% | 10% |
| 51%–75% | 91% | 9% |
| 76%–100% | 94% | 6% |
| Statewide (100%) | 90% | 10% |
| State ACT Participation Rate | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 33% | 67% |
| 26%–50% | 43% | 57% |
| 51%–75% | 51% | 49% |
| 76%–100% | 61% | 39% |
| Statewide (100%) | 53% | 47% |
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference is available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled In State and Out of State by State Preference and ACT Composite Score, 2012
- As ACT Composite score increases, the share of students who attend a college that matches their preference to stay in state decreases.
- In contrast, the percentage of students who enroll at a college that matches their out-of-state college preference increases with their ACT Composite score.
- Roughly 7 out of 10 students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 33–36 attend a college that matches their preference to enroll out of state, compared to only 3 out of 10 students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 1–15.
Graph reads: 7% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 1–15 who preferred to attend an in-state college attend an out-of-state college instead.
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference is available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| ACT Composite Score Range | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 93% | 7% |
| 16–19 | 93% | 7% |
| 20–23 | 91% | 9% |
| 24–27 | 88% | 12% |
| 28–32 | 85% | 15% |
| 33–36 | 78% | 22% |
| ACT Composite Score Range | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 69% | 31% |
| 16–19 | 60% | 40% |
| 20–23 | 50% | 50% |
| 24–27 | 42% | 58% |
| 28–32 | 36% | 64% |
| 33–36 | 31% | 69% |
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference is available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled In State and Out of State by State Preference and Parent Education Level, 2012
- The percentage of ACT‑tested students who enroll at a college that matches their preference to attend an in-state college decreases as parent education level increases.
- Conversely, the share of ACT‑tested students who attend a college that matches their preference to enroll out of state increases with parent education level.
- Roughly 2 out of 3 ACT-tested students whose parents earned a graduate degree attend a college that matches their preference to attend college out of state, compared to only 1 out of 3 ACT-tested first-generation college students.
Graph reads: 11% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students whose parents earned a bachelor’s degree and who preferred to attend an in-state college attend an out-of-state college instead.
Note: Based on 80% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference and parent education level are available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| Parent Education Level | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| No College | 94% | 6% |
| Some College | 92% | 8% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 89% | 11% |
| Graduate Degree | 86% | 14% |
| Parent Education Level | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| No College | 67% | 33% |
| Some College | 59% | 41% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 44% | 56% |
| Graduate Degree | 36% | 64% |
Note: Based on 80% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference and parent education level are available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled In State and Out of State by State Preference and Degree Plans, 2012
- As degree aspirations increase, so does the percentage of ACT‑tested students who attend a college that matches their preference to enroll out of state.
- The share of ACT‑tested students who attend a college that matches their preference to stay in state, however, decreases as their degree aspirations increase.
Graph reads: 45% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students who plan to earn a graduate degree and who preferred to attend an out-of-state college attend an in-state college instead.
Note: Based on 84% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference and degree plans are available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| Degree Plans | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 94% | 6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 91% | 9% |
| Graduate Degree | 89% | 11% |
| Degree Plans | Enrolled in State | Enrolled Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 65% | 35% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 50% | 50% |
| Graduate Degree | 45% | 55% |
Note: Based on 84% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom state preference and degree plans are available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.