This study examined the migration patterns of graduates from southern land-grant universities in an attempt to determine the characteristics of graduates who leave the state where they received the degree and their reasons for moving. The data were collected in 1986-87 by a survey of 1,858 graduates of southern land-grant universities who had participated in a related survey in 1976-77. The survey asked students to describe the relative importance of 16 factors associated with employment. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean score of each reason between migrant graduates and non-migrant graduates. Several findings were: (1) economic earnings were the most important factor for predicting employment migration of graduates, although respondents did not report this to be an important factor; (2) male graduates claimed work characteristics to be an important reason for accepting the first job out-of-state, while those who stayed within the state considered environmental conditions, such as location, more important; and (3) male graduates received higher salaries and benefits than female graduates at the time they entered the work force. Based on the desirability of retention of graduates within the state, employment opportunities need to appear more attractive to the graduate than a job outside the state. This paper includes 14 references and 7 data tables. (KS)