<p>Most students go “home” (wherever that may be) after graduating. Especially if the don’t have jobs lined up. What the state gets out of it is the graduates who remain in the state after graduating. This behavior is relatively predictable, even though the graduates are not obligated.</p>
<p>There are probably some schools in states that will consistently see a net loss - there are just not enough job opportunities in state, and the graduates have to follow the jobs - and other states will have enough jobs that people will migrate there from elsewhere. </p>
<p>But the tendency to stay in or return to your home state is, overall, very strong. </p>