Columbia - general (graduation, qualifications, about)

[carolinagarnet]

Originally Posted by kingofCola

Umm a lot of investors looking for bargains account for these search results too

I'm not sure that's true unless investment properties are not captured in the "second home" category they measured at 2.3% of purchases.

[TXGamecock]

Originally Posted by BrandonCoombes

It’s not like it’s something we didn’t already know was happening in this state. Columbia came in at #4. After Charleston, but surprisingly before Greenville.

https://www.realtor.com/research/q2-...demand-report/

Lots of that can reasonably attributed to USC.

Plenty of out of state parents look at real estate; how serious they are about buying is anyones guess.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by TXGamecock

Lots of that can reasonably attributed to USC.

Plenty of out of state parents look at real estate; how serious they are about buying is anyones guess.

Sure but USC isn't the only large public university located in an inexpensive city.

[DSMRE]

Originally Posted by Docka

You have the younger generation pegged

But also think about the recent surge of jobs and comparatively our very livable priced downtown. This is a huge draw. Most of USC now I think comes from out of state and a lot of them are staying around after they graduate now.

We are looked at as the progressive city for SC as well over Charleston which is the historic city and Greenville-Spartanburg which is still considered the hills.

You cannot be serious with this statement. Both areas are growing faster.

[distortedlogic]

Originally Posted by DSMRE

You cannot be serious with this statement. Both areas are growing faster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdDH7b51yzw

[RiCoLex]

Originally Posted by DSMRE

You cannot be serious with this statement. Both areas are growing faster.

No need to pounce on someone’s opinion.

Growing faster may be true but that does not necessarily mean that’s good nor should it negate someone’s opinion. Personally I wish the Midlands would slow down a bit and handle some existing concerns before taking on problems additional growth may create. If a person feels a metro area is characterized as more progressive than another, that’s their opinion. You in turn are welcome to feel otherwise and even offer proof to the contrary. Agree to disagree!

Instead we should ALL take pride that all 3 of the metropolitan areas made the top 10 in something positive.
Each area has positive attributes unique to them as well as downsides.

[Mutiny77]

I thought "progressive" was meant in an ideological sense. Columbia is definitely the state's progressive city in that sense but that's not really a widely known thing.

[DSMRE]

Originally Posted by RiCoLex

No need to pounce on someone’s opinion.

Growing faster may be true but that does not necessarily mean that’s good nor should it negate someone’s opinion. Personally I wish the Midlands would slow down a bit and handle some existing concerns before taking on problems additional growth may create. If a person feels a metro area is characterized as more progressive than another, that’s their opinion. You in turn are welcome to feel otherwise and even offer proof to the contrary. Agree to disagree!

Instead we should ALL take pride that all 3 of the metropolitan areas made the top 10 in something positive.
Each area has positive attributes unique to them as well as downsides.

It's not true though. Greenville has actually become fairly cosmopolitan. The hillbilly hills it is not. It would be like me saying Cola is all rundown. It's an opinion, but it isn't true. Is it? I agree all areas have there positive attributes. That's why I'm not slamming any of them. No place is for everyone.

[RiCoLex]

Originally Posted by DSMRE

It's not true though. Greenville has actually become fairly cosmopolitan. The hillbilly hills it is not. It would be like me saying Cola is all rundown. It's an opinion, but it isn't true. Is it? I agree all areas have there positive attributes. That's why I'm not slamming any of them. No place is for everyone.

I agree that Greenville has improved immensely, especially the fact that it supports the very diverse schedule of The Peace Center that Columbia hopefully will eventually have, though Columbia does have the only art house cinema in SC, a quality facility with two screens to boot.
We have enjoyed several concerts and plays that were only scheduled to be at The Peace Center. That is one benefit that population growth has brought, especially those well-educated with higher disposable income that support cultural events.
Plus it’s an easy drive to all that Asheville and the Blue Ridge offer visitors.

[carolinagarnet]

Originally Posted by Docka

You have the younger generation pegged

But also think about the recent surge of jobs and comparatively our very livable priced downtown. This is a huge draw. Most of USC now I think comes from out of state and a lot of them are staying around after they graduate now.

We are looked at as the progressive city for SC as well over Charleston which is the historic city and Greenville-Spartanburg which is still considered the hills.

I'm of two minds about this trend in relation to USC's growth. There are a few things happening:

- Freshman classes continue to grow past previously stated limits (2014: 4,943, 2019: 6,250)
- The out-of-state percentage of the freshman class is leveling out and actually regressing slightly (2014: 50.0%, 2019: 47.2%)
- Transfer cohorts continue to increase in size (2014: 1,353, 2019: 2,450)
- Retention rates have stayed flat, but SAT scores and 6y graduation rates have jumped at an astounding rate (2014: 1210; 73%, 2018: 1273; 77%)

Taken together, the school is getting fundamentally better and is likely to jump in the rankings in the next 5 years as the 3y trailing scores US News uses finally catch up. That would suggest that better opportunities out of state will become available to graduates. That could mean more graduating seniors leaving SC. On the other hand, the absolute number of SC residents is increasing, which could suggest more may stay locally.

I'd be curious to get everyone's thoughts on this as I think it could go either way or be some blend of both.