Sure, education is draining rural areas even without student loans, but they make the problem worse. And this effect is even more pronounced when we move focus

Sure, education is draining rural areas even without student loans, but they make the problem worse. And this effect is even more pronounced when we move focus one level of urbanization higher: Truly rural areas just don't have that many highly qualified positions outside the medical field. But in their regional capitals, definitely not what you would call a town anymore, every position exists that you would also finds in a world class metropolis, just on a much lower payscale. That's where much of the education-caused movement would go in absence of student debt. But when you add debt to the equation, the lure of first tier metropolis money turns from "but on the other hand, cost of living etc" to an offer you cannot reject.