<p>^maybe students at LACs feel a greater need to go on to graduate school. It might not be <em>too</em> much more for someone at a big research school like Michigan or Wisconsin to go and get an MS in science or engineering with only an extra semester or year. And for someone instate, paying less than 20k (bringing total costs to still about half that of 4 years at a private college) to get a more marketable degree, it might be seen as worth it. They may feel that with an MS they do not need to go back for a PhD to further their careers. Compare that to someone at a LAC where they cannot get an MS. I’m not too sure about the availability of terminal Master’s programs in areas like biology and chemistry (though I do know there are a bunch in engineering) so if there are a large number of schools that offer a 1 or 2 year MS in the pure sciences, maybe I’m wrong.</p>