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Enrollment by State

Of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2012 that enroll in college, 22% attend an out-of-state college, whereas 78% attend an in-state college.

Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by State ACT Participation Rate, 2012

  • As state ACT participation rate increases, the percentage of ACT-tested students who attend college out of state decreases.
  • An exception to this pattern is evident in states that administer the ACT statewide, where 1 out of 5 ACT-tested students attend college out of state.
Chart showing Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by State ACT Participation Rate, 2012

Graph reads: 20% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students from states administering the ACT statewide attend an out-of-state college.

State ACT Participation RateAttending Out of State
Less than 26%33%
26%–50%26%
51%–75%19%
76%–100%12%
Statewide (100%)20%

Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by ACT Composite Score, 2012

  • The percentage of students who attend college out of state increases as ACT Composite score increases.
  • Roughly half of all students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 33–36 attend an out-of-state college, compared with only 12% of students in the score range of 1–15.
Chart showing Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by ACT Composite Score, 2012

Graph reads: 26% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 24–27 attend an out-of-state college.

ACT Composite Score RangeAttending Out of State
1–1512%
16–1914%
20–2319%
24–2726%
28–3236%
33–3649%

Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by Parent Education Level, 2012

  • The percentage of ACT-tested students who attend an out-of-state college increases as parent education level increases.
  • Among those ACT-tested high school graduates who have at least one parent with a graduate degree, 1 out of 3 attends college out of state.
  • Among those ACT-tested first-generation college students, only 1 out of 10 attends an out-of-state college.
Chart showing Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by Parent Education Level, 2012

Graph reads: 23% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students whose parents earned a bachelor’s degree attend an out-of-state college.

Parent Education LevelAttending Out of State
No College10%
Some College14%
Bachelor's Degree23%
Graduate Degree33%

Note: Based on 84% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom parent education level is available.


Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by Degree Plans, 2012

  • As degree aspirations increase, so does the percentage of ACT-tested students who attend college out of state.
  • Among ACT-tested students who plan to obtain an associate’s degree or an undergraduate certificate, roughly 1 out of 10 attend college out of state.
  • In contrast, roughly 1 out of 4 ACT-tested students who plan to obtain a graduate degree attend an out-of-state college.
Chart showing Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Attending College Out of State by Degree Plans, 2012

Graph reads: 18% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students who plan to earn a bachelor’s degree attend an out-of-state college.

Degree PlansAttending Out of State
Less Than Bachelor's Degree11%
Bachelor's Degree18%
Graduate Degree26%

Note: Based on 91% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom degree plans are available.