Access to higher education: To emigrate or return to the United States Virgin Islands

This study investigated the factors that influence migration patterns of professionally trained Virgin Islanders. The study sought to determine (1) which demographic factors related to the migration of Virgin Islanders; (2) the factors that influence Virgin Islanders to study in the United States; (3) the factors that influence Virgin Islanders to remain in the United States or return to the Virgin Islands; and (4) the job related factors with which Virgin Islanders are most dissatisfied in the Virgin Islands. A descriptive analysis of the data was used to identify the frequencies, percentage and mean range of the factors presented. The highest ranking factors were cross-tabulated with demographic factors.;The findings showed that academic benefits were the highest-ranking categorical factor that influenced Virgin Islanders to study in the United States. When Virgin Islanders decided to remain in the United States, working conditions and professional needs were the highest-ranking categorical factors. When Virgin Islanders decided to return to the Virgin Islands, societal setting and the influence of others were the highest-ranking categorical factors. For professionally trained returnees, limited library facilities, equipment and lack of adequate laboratory or office space in government offices were major concerns. Lack of contact with new developments in their respective fields was also a major concern. The study also found that Virgin Islanders who received government scholarships were more likely to return; that Virgin Islanders who maintained contact with local development through newspapers, other professional, or other means were more likely to return; and that Virgin Islanders working in the field of law were the most satisfied upon their return to the island, while those in the health professions and biological sciences were the most dissatisfied.;It was recommended that the flow of information from the government of the Virgin Islands needs improvement in terms of more contact with scholarship recipients during study abroad; reinstitution of the Talent Bank Project with an educational office on the mainland to coordinate communication with the "stay-ons" and the Virgin Islands government; and establishment of curricula and work-study programs in the public school system stressing applications of the needed professional fields on the island.