Recent college graduates continue to gravitate towards major metropolitan areas, drawn by opportunity, strong local economies, and the presence of top-tier universities, according to private equity company Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2025 Talent Hubs report. As the Class of 2025 enters the workforce, cities that combine corporate density, diverse industries, and accessible educational networks are emerging as clear magnets for new talent.
Here are the top US cities attracting the most graduates this year.
New York City
New York City remains the premier destination for graduates seeking careers in finance, accounting, consulting, and technology. 10.9% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, representing a 38% year-over-year increase from 2024. The city’s concentration of global firms and competitive business ecosystem makes it a natural choice for students aiming to enter high-stakes, fast-paced industries. Its universities provide a continuous pipeline of highly skilled graduates, reinforcing the city’s status as a talent hub.
San Francisco-Bay Area
The San Francisco-Bay Area continues to draw graduates with a focus on technology, accounting, consulting, and automotive industries. 5.4% of 2025 graduates moved to the region, up 31% compared to the previous year. Northern California has earned a reputation as the epicenter of innovation and technology, attracting students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds. The region’s thriving startup culture and established technology firms create an environment conducive to professional growth and experimentation.
Los Angeles Los Angeles ranks high among new graduates for its blend of aerospace, defense, technology, media, and entertainment sectors. 6% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, marking a 19% increase from 2024. The city benefits from a strong public university system and a concentration of firms across multiple industries, offering graduates diverse career paths in both traditional and emerging fields.
Boston
Boston attracts graduates in finance, accounting, consulting, and technology. 4.7% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, up 11% from the previous year. The city’s network of high-caliber universities contributes to a steady flow of skilled graduates who enter local corporate ecosystems. Its compact metropolitan layout and professional opportunities make it particularly appealing to students seeking intellectual and career development in tandem.
Chicago
Chicago’s strength lies in accounting, banking, finance, and technology. 4.9% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase from 2024. The city offers a balance of professional opportunity and cost efficiency, making it an attractive destination for graduates mindful of both career growth and living expenses. Corporate presence across multiple sectors ensures a diverse and dynamic employment market.
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., draws graduates into accounting, government, and aerospace roles. 3.8% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, a 47% increase compared to 2024. The city combines professional networks with a proximity to decision-making hubs, allowing young talent to navigate both public and private sectors. Its diverse employment opportunities are enhanced by a dense metropolitan economy and established institutions.
Atlanta Atlanta attracts graduates in technology, accounting, consulting, and finance. 3.4% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, a modest 3% year-over-year increase. The city’s relative affordability, coupled with expanding corporate operations, positions it as a growing hub for cost-conscious graduates seeking professional development in emerging markets.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in finance, accounting, consulting, and life sciences. 2.8% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, a 1% increase from 2024. Its established educational institutions supply a continuous pipeline of skilled graduates who support the city’s professional sectors. The combination of accessibility, metropolitan scale, and career options makes it a persistent choice for students entering the workforce.
Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth has entered the top ten for 2025, reflecting significant corporate relocation and job growth. 3.1% of 2025 graduates relocated to the region, up 26% from the previous year. Graduates entering finance, accounting, consulting, and technology sectors are drawn to the region’s expanding opportunities, balanced with lower living costs compared to coastal metropolitan areas.
Seattle
Seattle rounds out the list, attracting graduates to technology and aerospace industries. 2.4% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, representing a 14% increase over 2024. The city’s professional landscape combines established corporations with innovative firms, providing graduates a platform to integrate skills, contribute to industry growth, and explore emerging technologies.
A persistent pattern
Across these ten cities, the underlying principle remains clear: graduates migrate to areas where opportunity, corporate density, and educational networks intersect. Coastal hubs like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles continue to draw students for high-profile sectors, while cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Seattle offer alternatives that combine career prospects with relative affordability. For the Class of 2025, metropolitan areas are more than destinations, they are ecosystems where talent, industry, and education converge to shape the next generation of professionals.
Here are the top US cities attracting the most graduates this year.
New York City
New York City remains the premier destination for graduates seeking careers in finance, accounting, consulting, and technology. 10.9% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, representing a 38% year-over-year increase from 2024. The city’s concentration of global firms and competitive business ecosystem makes it a natural choice for students aiming to enter high-stakes, fast-paced industries. Its universities provide a continuous pipeline of highly skilled graduates, reinforcing the city’s status as a talent hub.
San Francisco-Bay Area
The San Francisco-Bay Area continues to draw graduates with a focus on technology, accounting, consulting, and automotive industries. 5.4% of 2025 graduates moved to the region, up 31% compared to the previous year. Northern California has earned a reputation as the epicenter of innovation and technology, attracting students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds. The region’s thriving startup culture and established technology firms create an environment conducive to professional growth and experimentation.
Los Angeles Los Angeles ranks high among new graduates for its blend of aerospace, defense, technology, media, and entertainment sectors. 6% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, marking a 19% increase from 2024. The city benefits from a strong public university system and a concentration of firms across multiple industries, offering graduates diverse career paths in both traditional and emerging fields.
Boston
Boston attracts graduates in finance, accounting, consulting, and technology. 4.7% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, up 11% from the previous year. The city’s network of high-caliber universities contributes to a steady flow of skilled graduates who enter local corporate ecosystems. Its compact metropolitan layout and professional opportunities make it particularly appealing to students seeking intellectual and career development in tandem.
Chicago
Chicago’s strength lies in accounting, banking, finance, and technology. 4.9% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase from 2024. The city offers a balance of professional opportunity and cost efficiency, making it an attractive destination for graduates mindful of both career growth and living expenses. Corporate presence across multiple sectors ensures a diverse and dynamic employment market.
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., draws graduates into accounting, government, and aerospace roles. 3.8% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, a 47% increase compared to 2024. The city combines professional networks with a proximity to decision-making hubs, allowing young talent to navigate both public and private sectors. Its diverse employment opportunities are enhanced by a dense metropolitan economy and established institutions.
Atlanta Atlanta attracts graduates in technology, accounting, consulting, and finance. 3.4% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, a modest 3% year-over-year increase. The city’s relative affordability, coupled with expanding corporate operations, positions it as a growing hub for cost-conscious graduates seeking professional development in emerging markets.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in finance, accounting, consulting, and life sciences. 2.8% of 2025 graduates moved to the city, a 1% increase from 2024. Its established educational institutions supply a continuous pipeline of skilled graduates who support the city’s professional sectors. The combination of accessibility, metropolitan scale, and career options makes it a persistent choice for students entering the workforce.
Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth has entered the top ten for 2025, reflecting significant corporate relocation and job growth. 3.1% of 2025 graduates relocated to the region, up 26% from the previous year. Graduates entering finance, accounting, consulting, and technology sectors are drawn to the region’s expanding opportunities, balanced with lower living costs compared to coastal metropolitan areas.
Seattle
Seattle rounds out the list, attracting graduates to technology and aerospace industries. 2.4% of 2025 graduates relocated to the city, representing a 14% increase over 2024. The city’s professional landscape combines established corporations with innovative firms, providing graduates a platform to integrate skills, contribute to industry growth, and explore emerging technologies.
A persistent pattern
Across these ten cities, the underlying principle remains clear: graduates migrate to areas where opportunity, corporate density, and educational networks intersect. Coastal hubs like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles continue to draw students for high-profile sectors, while cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Seattle offer alternatives that combine career prospects with relative affordability. For the Class of 2025, metropolitan areas are more than destinations, they are ecosystems where talent, industry, and education converge to shape the next generation of professionals.
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