Where Louisiana ranks in retention of college graduates

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) -- Gov. John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is going in the "right direction" as the state ranks 17th in college graduate retention in a Washington Post analysis.

Read Gov. Edwards' statement below:

“I often say Louisiana's best days are ahead of us, and this news is proof that we are heading in the right direction. It is a testament to the historic investments we're making in higher education, and the hard work my administration has done to grow and diversify our economy. We have the lowest unemployment rate in state history, and we have created nearly 200,000 jobs since the worst of the COVID pandemic. It is gratifying to see so many Louisiana college graduates choosing to stay right here to begin their careers and to know that we are outpacing many other states, especially in the South. But we will not settle for 17th. We will keep working until no other state keeps more of their college graduates home than Louisiana."