Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for "brain drain," with college-educated adults born in the state leaving at far higher rates than educated people moving in, according to a Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis released this week. Among Wisconsin-born adults aged 31 to 40 now living elsewhere, nearly 60% hold bachelor's degrees or higher, compared to just 45% of same-aged adults from other states who've moved to Wisconsin—a gap of 14.6 percentage points. Only North Dakota posted a worse rate. The state's position has barely improved since 2009, when Wisconsin led the nation in brain drain.
The migration pattern varies sharply by destination. Wisconsin gains 1.51 highly educated residents from Illinois for every one it loses there, even though Illinois itself experiences net brain gain nationally. But the state loses ground to Minnesota—the top destination for Wisconsin leavers at 17.8% of all departures—gaining only 0.56 educated adults for each one moving to the Twin Cities metro area. The report shows similar losses to Colorado (0.19 entrants per leaver), Texas (0.47), and California (0.75). Wisconsin does see gains from other Midwest states: it attracts 2.0 highly educated people from Iowa for every one moving there, along with positive ratios from Indiana (1.32), Ohio (1.35), Michigan (1.65), and Missouri (1.09). Between 2020 and 2024, Wisconsin added roughly 2,900 more domestic residents than it lost—a modest gain of 0.5 people per 1,000 residents that ranks 26th nationally.
Two factors soften the impact of Wisconsin's brain drain, the report finds. First, Wisconsin-born adults aged 31 to 40 are more educated than the national average to begin with: 43.4% hold bachelor's degrees, compared to 40.6% nationwide, ranking Wisconsin 16th among states. Second, the state has seen more people move in than leave since 2020, meaning the total population is growing even as it loses educated workers on net. Among all Wisconsin residents aged 25 and over, 33.4% hold bachelor's or advanced degrees, slightly below the national rate of 35.7% but well ahead of neighboring Indiana at 29.5%. The authors note that most Midwestern states face similar brain drain challenges, with Illinois standing out as the region's only state experiencing net brain gain.
Retaining and attracting college graduates matters because those workers drive economic growth in an increasingly knowledge-based economy. The report cites earlier research showing that most Wisconsin job openings paying at least $50,000 per year and expected by 2030 typically require bachelor's or advanced degrees. Policymakers from both parties have proposed solutions including lower property taxes, streamlined housing construction to reduce rising home prices, and tax incentives for graduates who remain in Wisconsin. Other states have tackled brain drain by playing to their strengths: Ohio offers discounted mortgage rates to recent college graduates, Texas provides relocation assistance and tax breaks to attract businesses, and Minnesota recruits people to move to rural areas through local networks. Wisconsin may have an opening to pull educated workers from neighboring states like Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan, where the state already enjoys net gains, but the authors warn that proximity to major metro areas like Chicago and the Twin Cities will continue drawing some young professionals away no matter what policies change.