Despite economic uncertainty, recent college graduates are still flocking to major cities, according to private equity company Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2025 Talent Hubs report.
The top three cities attracting new grads in 2025 are New York City, San Francisco-Bay Area, and Los Angeles.
According to John Gates, CEO of Markets at JLL Americas, a “relatively high percentage of college graduates” move to urban areas each year, and that “consistent pattern” has continued in 2025.
From the Class of 2025, 1.47 million graduates entered office-centric roles this year, according to the report. Of those graduates, 36% relocated to a different metro area, and 23% relocated to a different state.
Job opportunities are a major factor driving new grads to move after college, Gates says. Amid a faltering labor market, the employment situation for new grads has been “very up and down.”
All of the cities on the list have robust local economies and a high density of corporations, Gates says, which creates a steady stream of new jobs.
JLL’s 2025 list of talent hubs has changed little since last year, except for the addition of Dallas-Fort Worth, which edged out Houston to land in the top 10.
Each city’s rank is based on overall size and on the university caliber of graduates taking jobs in those markets.
These are the top 10 cities for new grads, including the share of 2025 grads who are moving there, the year-over-year increase in 2024 grads, and the top industries in each city.
1. New York City
Share of 2025 grads: 10.9%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 38%
Top industries: Finance, Accounting and Consulting, Technology
2. San Francisco-Bay Area
Share of 2025 grads: 5.4%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 31%
Top industries: Technology, Accounting and Consulting, Automotive
3. Los Angeles
Share of 2025 grads: 6.0%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 19%
Top industries: Aerospace and Defense, Technology, Media and Entertainment, Accounting and Consulting
4. Boston
Share of 2025 grads: 4.7%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 11%
Top industries: Finance, Accounting and Consulting, Technology
5. Chicago
Share of 2025 grads: 4.9%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 10%
Top industries: Accounting and Consulting, Banking and Finance, Technology
6. Washington, D.C.
Share of 2025 grads: 3.8%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 47%
Top industries: Accounting and Consulting, Government, Aerospace and Defense
7. Atlanta
Share of 2025 grads: 3.4%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 3%
Top industries: Technology, Accounting and Consulting, Finance
8. Philadelphia
Share of 2025 grads: 2.8%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 1%
Top industries: Finance, Accounting and Consulting, Life Science
9. Dallas-Fort Worth
Share of 2025 grads: 3.1%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 26%
Top industries: Finance, Accounting and Consulting, Technology
10. Seattle
Share of 2025 grads: 2.4%
Year-over-year increase in 2024 grads: 14%
Top industries: Technology, Aerospace and Defense
It’s no surprise to Gates that New York City tops the list: the city is “perhaps one of the most competitive business communities and economies in the world,” which makes it a “very attractive” place for young graduates to live.
West Coast hubs like Los Angeles and San Francisco are similarly popular among new grads: Northern California is widely considered the “epicenter of innovation and technology,” Gates says, and “young people with STEM degrees of any kind are going to flock there.”
According to Gates, proximity to top schools is a major factor attracting grads to these cities.
Cities like Boston, New York and Philadelphia benefit from having “super high-quality universities” in their metro areas, he says, and Los Angeles draws large numbers of graduates from California’s strong state university system.
Cost of living can be another major consideration: Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle are popular options for cost-conscious grads due to their relative affordability compared to coastal hubs, Gates says.
Dallas-Fort Worth, the newest addition to the list, has experienced a “surge in job growth” due to an uptick in corporate relocation to the area, Gates says.
Ultimately, “graduates go where the jobs are,” Gates says, and cities with thriving employment markets will consistently attract top talent.
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