Growing brain drain: University of Alabama's gain in drawing Illinois students

[Crimson1967]

Not much hope and change to be found there.

(Again, I don't disagree with your basic point but applying it to Illinois is just so....amusing)

Maybe they are coming here because they feel at home with our governors.


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[uafan4life]

Thanks but looks like New York according to this graph.

Less than 5% from out of state - can that be true? Seems like it would be much higher.

https://www.collegefactual.com/coll...ife/diversity/chart-geographic-diversity.html

I wonder how many students' parents bought property in Florida - since they were likely going to end up there, anyway - in order to save on tuition?

[Debating with myself over whether or not to put this in blue...]

 

[cbi1972]

I wonder how many students' parents bought property in Florida - since they were likely going to end up there, anyway - in order to save on tuition?

[Debating with myself over whether or not to put this in blue...]

Florida has no state income tax, so that's a double bonus if they move there.

 

[Bazza]

Florida has no state income tax, so that's a double bonus if they move there.

Yup. It seems like the state of Florida has made an effort to make the state attractive for retired folks especially. Tourism being a huge component of the state's revenue you see that also on the agenda here.

The warm climate and so much coastline doesn't hurt either.

But the downside is living with so many nut jobs!

The more I live here the more I want to just spend my time away from the general public....lol.....

 

[CaliforniaTide]

I LOVED northern California when I lived there but......it......costs.....WAY.......too......much.....

I agree 100%. There are times when I yearn to be back in California, but then when I do return home and see the various prices just to live there, I realize why I enjoy living in Alabama.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Yup. It seems like the state of Florida has made an effort to make the state attractive for retired folks especially. Tourism being a huge component of the state's revenue you see that also on the agenda here.

The warm climate and so much coastline doesn't hurt either.

But the downside is living with so many nut jobs!

The more I live here the more I want to just spend my time away from the general public....lol.....

First, I can't deal with the humidity. Maybe that's the California in me, but the humidity in Florida (to me) is beyond awful.

Second, Florida Man seems to be the nutjob with all of the shenanigans he gets into.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Thanks but looks like New York according to this graph.

Less than 5% from out of state - can that be true? Seems like it would be much higher.

https://www.collegefactual.com/coll...ife/diversity/chart-geographic-diversity.html

When I was at UA, mid ;50s - early '60s, there was a very strong New York presence. In fact, there was a very strong Jewish presence. At that time, there were four Jewish fraternities and three Jewish sororities. The ZBTs were composed solely of southern Jews. Now there are three frats and only one sorority, SDT, the one which was the premier when I was there. I think they got down to one frat, ZBT, for a while but the Sammys and AEP recolonized. There were also a lot of New Yorkers who weren't Jewish. I don't find the NY presence at UF surprising. I thought about 50% of FL's population was originally from New York...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

First, I can't deal with the humidity. Maybe that's the California in me, but the humidity in Florida (to me) is beyond awful.

Second, Florida Man seems to be the nutjob with all of the shenanigans he gets into.

We are humid here and T-Town's even more, as you know, but neither is in the league with FL's. I can't take it. In fact, I've said I'm living as far south as I can stand - then the gators and armadillos moved in, heading north...

 

[RTR91]

I don't find the NY presence at UF surprising. I thought about 50% of FL's population was originally from New York...

Just means they don't have to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They can go to grandma's house at The Villages to wait on everyone to make the trip from NY.

 

[CharminTide]

I LOVED northern California when I lived there but......it......costs.....WAY.......too......much.....

And I'm betting it's only gotten more expensive since you left.

San Francisco is a wonderful city when you're young. But living here long-term is a terrible financial choice, unless you have a time machine.

 

[Jon]

And I'm betting it's only gotten more expensive since you left.

San Francisco is a wonderful city when you're young. But living here long-term is a terrible financial choice, unless you have a time machine.

or luck into rent control or the start-up lottery

 

[Bazza]

First, I can't deal with the humidity. Maybe that's the California in me, but the humidity in Florida (to me) is beyond awful.

I'm also from California but we moved to the east coast when I was very young so I'm in a different situation than you but can appreciate your comment because I have spent time there visiting friends and the climate is completely different.

I think that's where the phrase came from - "It's not the heat....it's the humidity!"

The entire time I've lived in Florida, I've only lived away from the coast for the 5 years I went to school at UF and most weekends I came home to surf but I can remember all too well those suffocating days and nights in Gainesville.....oh boy!

Fortunately I live on a barrier island and most days we have a breeze coming off the water one way or the other. But there are plenty of days with no breeze and temps in the 90's and humidity that feels like 100%. Those are the days you plan your day around the heat and humidity!

My place is at the top of the island on that road that zig zags just down from the condos. Other than getting a little too crowded here - it's not too bad.

 

[CharminTide]

or luck into rent control or the start-up lottery

Landlords have ways to kick you out of rent-controlled apartments if they want. Even tech sector employees are being driven out of San Francisco due to the absurd cost of living. You can pull down 6 figures here and still make less than median income.

 

[Bazza]

Landlords have ways to kick you out of rent-controlled apartments if they want. Even tech sector employees are being driven out of San Francisco due to the absurd cost of living. You can pull down 6 figures here and still make less than median income.

That's insane!

I heard somewhere that the city of SF is operating in the red....any truth to that, Charmin?

 

[Jon]

Landlords have ways to kick you out of rent-controlled apartments if they want. Even tech sector employees are being driven out of San Francisco due to the absurd cost of living. You can pull down 6 figures here and still make less than median income.

I know it I have a bunch of friends who are there

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I'm generally pleased with the out-of-staters (they pay more) and hope they are not like the young lady from New Jersey who recently came to light. Alabama is not the state she is sometimes mischaracterized outside the state.
On the other hand, I do hope the University does not lose sight of the fact that it is Alabama's University. University grads grow up to be the leaders of the state, including legislators and governors, and they have a significant impact on budgets thirty years down the road.

This is a legitimate point, and one that the University periodically addresses. Thus far, they have never turned down a qualified in-state student to make room for an out-of-stater. So far, they've been able to take both.

Question: Do you know if UA has a specific program in place to recruit students to remain in Alabama?

Or specific employment/placement counselors?

Good question. I'm not aware of one, but it's a great idea.

Not that I'm aware of, though they do offer very competitive scholarships for the high achievers.

Dr. Witt wanted to set Alabama on a course to eventually be considered on the same level as the best public universities out there, and one way you do that is by attracting the 'best and brightest'. So far, it's working.

Academic improvement was definitely part of the calculus, but it was economic as well.

I've posted on this before, but it bears repeating: Higher education is a high fixed cost / low marginal cost business. Classroom buildings, dorms, labs and libraries cost a boatload of money.

But once they're in place, it costs the school next to nothing to put one more kid through the system.

Because marginal cost is next to nothing, the key to success is top-line revenue. Because OOS students pay a lot more, but cost the same (i.e., not much at all), they are highly profitable, and critical to the success of the whole enterprise.

Put another way: If we didn't have all the OOSers, we'd have a devil's choice -- raise in-state tuition to an untenable level, or reduce faculty, labs....everything that makes UA what it is today. In other words, revert to where we were under Sorensen and other pre-Witt administrations.

The whole driver of this is the Alabama legislature not funding higher education the way it needs to be funded. So, counterintuitively, we have a lot of students from Illinois and other states because the Alabama legislature is such a cesspool.

As it stands now, the OOS revenue makes the vastly improved academic experience possible, which makes the rankings better, which makes it more attractive to the lucrative OOS market, and the cycle continues its upward spiral.

Guys, we need the OOSers. If we don't have them, the whole thing falls apart, and it might as well be 1983 again.

 

[CharminTide]

That's insane!

I heard somewhere that the city of SF is operating in the red....any truth to that, Charmin?

It has been for years, mainly due to city pensions. They'll eventually have to either raise taxes or reduce city services. Probably both.

There was a ballot proposition in the 1970's that froze CA's property taxes, so they haven't been legally permitted to keep pace with inflation over the past few decades. Those who supported the measure at the time were older Californians who didnt want to be priced out of their homes. Those against said it would lead to a budget crisis down the road. The latter group was right. Income taxes here are extremely high to compensate for the low property tax. But when the majority of the city rents and doesn't see the benefit of low property taxes, they get screwed.

It's a wonderful city for young people. But almost everyone I know in their 30s joins the mass exodus of former SF residents to places like Portland, Seattle, Denver, etc.

 

[Bazza]

It has been for years, mainly due to city pensions. They'll eventually have to either raise taxes or reduce city services. Probably both.

There was a ballot proposition in the 1970's that froze CA's property taxes, so they haven't been legally permitted to keep pace with inflation over the past few decades. Those who supported the measure at the time were older Californians who didnt want to be priced out of their homes. Those against said it would lead to a budget crisis down the road. The latter group was right. Income taxes here are extremely high to compensate for the low property tax. But when the majority of the city rents and doesn't see the benefit of low property taxes, they get screwed.

It's a wonderful city for young people. But almost everyone I know in their 30s joins the mass exodus of former SF residents to places like Portland, Seattle, Denver, etc.

OK thanks - I hope things work out. That's a very special part of the country.

 

[Crimson1967]

The state should use this as a recruiting tool for businesses. Let them know we have a lot of young, smart people here. We could boost a very diverse pool of students to choose from, representing all parts of the country.


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[crimsonaudio]

And I'm betting it's only gotten more expensive since you left.

San Francisco is a wonderful city when you're young. But living here long-term is a terrible financial choice, unless you have a time machine.

Man, I LOVE SF - every time I visit there I hate leaving. But for those of you that live there, I don't know how you do it - from what I've read housing costs are just astronomical there. Even in the 'burbs...