Richmond Rises to Second Most Popular Post-Grad Destination for UR Students as D.C. Declines

More University of Richmond students are choosing to stay in the city after graduating, with Richmond recently surpassing Washington D.C. and becoming the second most popular post-graduation destination, according to data from the University of Richmond’s First Destination Survey.

Washington D.C. dropped 7% from 2022 to 2023 as a post-graduation destination for UR alumni, continuing a six-year trend of decline, according to the survey. 

The first destination survey, administered to all graduating seniors, measures the percentage of students who move to different cities following graduation. Over the last six years, New York City, Washington D.C., and Richmond have been top destinations compared to other cities.

There are many variables including a student's field of interest, job market conditions, cost of living, and proximity to family or networks that can drive a student's decision on location. 

“Students are more conscious of the pragmatic realities of postgraduate life,” said Executive Director of Career Development Damon Yarnell. 

Proximity to home drove Emma Mecklenburg’s decision of where to be located post-graduation. A 2024 graduate originally from Greenville, South Carolina, she applied to jobs in Greenville and Charlotte, North Carolina, alongside Richmond. 

“Richmond was the furthest from home I wanted to be, but I also was intending to be closer. I was just applying to jobs in Richmond because I wanted to maximize my chances of getting a good job. So I didn't intend necessarily to be in Richmond postgrad,” Mecklenburg said. 

The University of Richmond Career Services Office takes a holistic approach for a student's career development at every single phase. From the introductory meeting, through exploration, to the first destination, there is always a focus on the individual student, Yarnell explained. 

“The choice of location for first destination should reflect that holistic approach,” he said. 

Students are conscious of trends in the job markets and the cost of higher education and the relationship between the two, Yarnell explained. These often show up as a concern for return on investment when deciding where to live after graduation. 

“I’ve found that students are conscious of this and will take into account financial pressures and concerns and opportunities when they choose their location,” he added. 

Eva Vanetta, a 2024 UR graduate now living in Richmond, factored in the city's lower rent costs when making her decision to move here full time.

The university has a strong alumni community of about 35,000 active, working alumni, with about 9,000 of them based in Richmond. 

“I think there are also some other reasons that Richmond may be more attractive than ever to Richmond students and these include the real conscious efforts of the university to help students build connections to the local community while they're undergrads,” Yarnell explained.

Vanetta got her job in Richmond because of connections through her past student employment on campus and her professors.

“I knew I was going to get a job easier here than I would in other places,” Vanetta explained. 

Hybrid and remote work are also new factors following the pandemic, as they can allow people to commute to major metropolitan areas and live part-time or full-time in a different city.

Allison Leopold, a 2024 graduate working in New York City, has a hybrid position. She works part time from home living in her parents house and also commutes to New York from New Cannan, Connecticut. 

“Although I commute like 3 hours a day total, I still think it is worth it to experience the most of the job, build relationships with higher-ups, and save money,” Leopold said. 

Emma Wrobel, a 2024 graduate working in Washington, D.C., never considered Richmond or New York City as options. She was drawn to D.C.’s centralized East Coast location, cleanliness, and strong job market. She felt it would be challenging for her college town to be her first post-grad city and knew New York was overpriced.

“Downsides to NY include the ridiculous prices to do literally anything and trying to find rent that's affordable and not live in a shoe box,” Wrobel said.

Yarnell predicts that as UR broadens its geographic reach in recruiting, hubs like New York City will see a decline, while cities such as Portland, Seattle, and Austin will see an increase in popularity.

“University of Richmond graduates, compared to graduates of most other colleges and universities in the U.S., should expect to have more choices when they graduate and throughout their careers,” Yarnell said. “I hope to increase the range of choices that students and alum will have throughout their working lives.” 

Contact writer Seraina Caviezel at seraina.caviezel@richmond.edu.