It happened. The thing every parent dreads but also kind of prays for. Joanna Gaines officially sent her oldest daughter, Ella Rose, off to college, and honestly, the internet is still buzzing about it.
If you've followed the Gaines family since the early days of Fixer Upper, you probably remember Ella as the quiet, creative girl helping her mom in the garden or arranging flowers. Fast forward to 2026, and she’s a full-blown adult navigating life in the Big Apple.
She isn't just "Chip and Jo’s kid" anymore. She’s finding her own footing, and the details of her transition are a mix of relatable parenting struggles and high-end design.
Joanna Gaines' Daughter College: The Big Move to NYC
So, where exactly did she go? While the Gaines family usually keeps their private lives under a heavy layer of "Texas privacy," it’s become common knowledge that Joanna Gaines' daughter college choice was the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
She moved in during the fall of 2025.
Think about that for a second. Going from a 40-acre farm in Waco, Texas, to the concrete jungle of Manhattan. That’s a massive culture shock. Joanna has been pretty vocal about how different this felt compared to when their oldest son, Drake, headed off.
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Drake stayed relatively local in Texas (attending Baylor, then later moving on). But Ella? She went "across the country," as Joanna put it. It’s a literal and metaphorical distance that hit the Magnolia founder hard.
Why the "Losing a Friend" Comment Resonated
Joanna mentioned in an interview with People that losing Ella to college felt like losing a best friend. That’s a heavy sentiment. They had a "rhythm"—antiquing together, hitting up plant shops, and grabbing coffee.
When your kid is your hobby partner, the house doesn't just feel empty; it feels quiet.
The No-Shiplap Dorm Room
You’d think having the world’s most famous interior designer as a mother would mean your dorm room looks like a five-star hotel.
Nope.
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Joanna actually stepped back. She told the Today show that Ella took the lead on the entire design of her space. No "mom-tervention" allowed.
- Style: Ella has a "unique, mature style" that apparently differs from the classic Magnolia look.
- The Plants: If you saw the Instagram tour of Ella’s old bedroom, you know it was basically a greenhouse. Joanna is now the official "plant sitter" for Ella’s plant babies back in Waco.
- The Independence: Ella specifically wanted to go somewhere where she wasn't just "the girl from Fixer Upper."
She wanted anonymity. In a city of eight million people, she finally got it.
Establishing an Identity Outside of Magnolia
It’s tough to be a Gaines. Not in the "struggling for money" way, obviously, but in the "everyone knows your business" way. Waco is basically Magnolia-land.
By choosing a school like Parsons, Ella is leaning into her own talent. She interned at Magnolia, sure. She even helped design a cottage on the family's Colorado property before she left. But the move to NYC was a deliberate play for independence.
What People Get Wrong About the Move
A lot of fans assumed she’d stay in Texas to help run the empire. But honestly? The Gaines kids seem to have a streak of independence that Chip and Jo actually encourage.
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Joanna wrote in Magnolia Journal that this season felt like a "breathless surrender." She’s learning to parent from a distance, which apparently involves a lot of care packages and "thinking of you" texts.
The Family Dynamic Shift
With two kids out of the house, the farmhouse in Waco is changing. There are still three kids at home—Duke, Emmie, and the ever-energetic Crew—but the "original four" dynamic is shifting.
During the 2025 Christmas break, Joanna shared a video of Ella returning home. The way Crew (who is 7 now) sprinted at her? Total tear-jerker. It’s a reminder that while she’s a design student in New York, she’s still the big sister who spins her brother around in the driveway.
Practical Insights for Parents in the Same Boat
If you're staring at a stack of suitcases right now, take a page from the Gaines playbook.
- Let them design the space. Even if you hate the rug they picked, it’s their first "home."
- Accept the "Friend" loss. It’s okay to grieve the person you did everything with.
- Find a new "job." Joanna became the plant caretaker. Find something of theirs to tend to; it keeps the connection alive without being overbearing.
- Distance isn't the end. As Jo said, "proximity isn't what truly connects us."
Looking Ahead to 2026
Ella is currently deep into her studies. Whether she returns to the family business or starts her own rival design firm in Manhattan remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Joanna Gaines' daughter college journey has been a masterclass in how to let go with grace—even when it feels like a "tidal wave of emotions."
If you are following the family's journey, keep an eye on the Magnolia Journal winter issues. That's usually where Joanna drops the real, unvarnished truth about how the "empty nest" (or half-empty nest) is actually going.
Actionable Steps for Empty Nesters:
- Audit your "Rhythms": Identify the activities you did with your child and find a friend or spouse to fill that gap so the loss doesn't feel like a vacuum.
- Ship the "Comforts": Joanna sends cookies. If your kid is far away, a box of "home" is better than a thousand texts.
- Embrace the Silence: Use the quieter house to tackle a project you’ve put off—maybe even a room renovation of your own.