“Attracting and retaining world-class talent to the St. Louis region is one of our top priorities at WashU because when St. Louis wins, we all win,” Martin said. “Over the last five years, we’ve made significant investments toward this goal through our Heartland Initiative, revamped School of Continuing & Professional Studies and increased funding for St. Louis startups, for example.

“Now is the time for WashU and our community and business partners to work together to make a transformative impact on the region. The data-driven insights from this report offer a clear path forward.”

“The good news is what makes St. Louis a great place to live aligns with what many students are seeking,” Wall said. “We’re well-positioned to win with these students, and achieving this is more about education and awareness than major investment.”  

“That said, there are opportunities for improvement, and this research gives us greater precision in identifying where our com

He also pointed to other cities, such as Philadelphia, that have worked in partnership with their local universities and businesses to retain college graduate talent.

“Campus Philly in Philadelphia is a great example of how a city can work in partnership with universities and local businesses to retain talent,” Wall said. “Through targeted initiatives, they’ve successfully built connections between students and local employers, which has helped increase the availability of high-paying jobs and internship opportunities.”

This collaborative approach between academic institutions, businesses and city leaders can serve as a model for St. Louis to create more competitive salaries and attract students to stay post-graduation, Wall added.