I wouldn't count out the Mid-Atlantic area for IT positions. The research triangle area of North Carolina is one place with a large number of companies that are tech oriented, and Atlanta is a large city with many businesses possibilities. Charlotte, which is the home of Bank of America, Wachovia, et al has had a tough time recently due to contraction in the financial sector, but there may well be IT career opportunities there as well. I'm not sure how good the job market is at the moment in either area, but both NC and Georgia are pretty close to home (assuming that both home and school are in SC), and you shouldn't give up on something in the area. As jimlynch said earlier, I would be hesitant moving across the country for a first job, especially if you don't have friends and family in the area. In the scale of stress inducing life events, starting a new job and moving to a new city are pretty high up the list. Doing both those things without anyone around to provide support could be a challenge. Friends don't develop overnight, and it can be a lonely time those first few months in an unfamiliar city. On the other hand, if you are an adventurous, outgoing individual, it might be exactly the type of challenge that you thrive on. In the end, not only should specific job opportunities be taken into account, you should do an honest self assessment to help you evaluate whether you are comfortable uprooting yourself from what you are familiar with. I don't know how much you have traveled, but South Carolina is a very different place than San Francisco or New York, so be prepared to make some adjustments to other parts of the country.