Personally - I think - look where you work?
My company is HQ in Atlanta (but moved there 8 or 9 years ago from the NE). Even new hires - we just hired a U of Toledo (experienced), we have people from the Southeast, West, mid western schools, etc.
My last company was first based in CA before it moved to the SE - and even there, tons of midwest and Northeast people.
Yes, many want to stay by their college - but look at where you work or even in the neighborhood you live - people end up in all places from all places. My neighborhood has so many colleges represented from so many parts of the country…you couldn’t pinpoint a commonality per se.
And today with many companies flooding handshake at tons of colleges and online / virtual hiring - I don’t put much credence into the - they’re just looking for their own or they dominate here type stuff.
Clemson, Auburn, Mississippi State, U of SC, Va Tech, etc. kids get jobs - and they’re not adjacent to large cities, etc…not to mention the Mercers or UTCs or small little private colleges whose kids are getting jobs.
Just my opinion - but I think all that is overplayed - that companies in Atlanta or only going to UGA or only hiring from UGA, etc.
That’s why it’s best, in my opinion, to find the right spot for you. There’s no assurances about careers at any school and once you start working, there’s no assurances about where you’ll ultimately end up - unless you work for a small, local place.