The article examines the current phenomenon of youth migration from medium-sized cities within the Republic of Tatarstan in connection with the statistically recorded population outflow in cities such as Bugulma and Leninogorsk, as well as the social demand for a solution to this problem. The purpose of the study is to determine the level of importance of the concept of budget-funded higher online education as a factor in reducing the intensity of youth migration from medium-sized cities. The significance was assessed through expert interviews of persons directly involved in attracting applicants to universities. Among the research objectives were: statistical assessment of the scale of the problem of youth migration from Bugulma and Leninogorsk, theoretical justification of the creation of the concept of budget-funded higher online education, conducting expert interviews and synthesis of conclusions. In a practical sense, the collected data made it possible to advance the understanding of the viability of the created concept, as well as to establish that the concept under study itself can only be useful in a number of other measures that help reduce the intensity of youth migration from medium-sized cities.