The aspirational creative class: Urban residential preferences of college students in creative majors

While research exploring creative professionals' residential preferences has been prolific, little attention has been paid to the impact that education in creative majors has had on the residential preferences of college students. This paper uses data collected from a survey about the residential preferences of undergraduate college students to show that students in creative majors have a statistically significant preference for urban residence after graduation. In addition students in creative majors possess a significantly higher desire for bohemian cultural amenities. Regression results indicate that having a creative major mediates the direct effect of desiring bohemian cultural amenities on the preference for an urban residential environment. The implications for these findings are discussed.

► This paper uses data collected from an undergraduate survey about the residential preferences of college students. ► It shows that students in creative majors have a statistically significant preference for urban residence after graduation. ► Students in creative majors possess a significantly higher desire for bohemian cultural amenities than those in noncreative majors. ► Having a creative major mediates the direct effect of desiring bohemian cultural amenities on the preference for cities.