Graduating students weighing job offers heavily consider the cost of living in each job’s location when making their decision, according to NACE’s 2024 Student Survey report.

More than 84% of graduates responding to NACE’s 2024 Student Survey identified cost of living as the top factor in determining their willingness to relocate for a job.

This aligns with students’ quest for economic security. They recognize that, because of cost-of-living disparities between locations, starting salaries are not equal and have an impact on their economic well-being. 

The survey results clearly illustrate the weight graduating students place on cost of living, as it outpaces other considerations, such as a diverse and tolerant community, available green spaces, social issues, and public transportation. (See Figure 1.)

NACE’s 2024 Student Survey, sponsored by Indeed, was conducted March 13 through May 15, 2024; a total of 20,482 college students took part, including 2,281 graduating seniors earning bachelor’s degrees. Participants can access the report and dashboard through MyNACE. The report and dashboard are also available in the NACE Store.