The farmhouse table in Waco is a little quieter these days. If you've followed the Gaines family since the early days of Fixer Upper, you probably remember the kids as toddlers running around construction sites in oversized work boots. Well, time is a thief.
Honestly, it feels like just yesterday Joanna was posting about Drake's high school graduation. Now? We are looking at a completely different landscape for the Magnolia crew. Drake is deep into his junior year, and Ella Rose has officially made the big leap.
It’s a massive transition.
Sending your children away is never easy, but when you are Joanna Gaines, the "nest" is more like a 40-acre fortress of memories and shiplap. The move to college isn't just a logistics hurdle for them; it’s been an emotional "breathless surrender," as Jo herself put it.
The Truth About Joanna Gaines Kids College Locations
There is a huge misconception that all the Gaines kids will just stay in Waco forever. You’d think they’d all go to Baylor University, right? Chip and Jo’s alma mater. The place where they basically own half the town.
But that's not exactly how it’s playing out.
Drake Gaines, the oldest, did stay relatively close to home initially. He’s currently a junior. For a long time, the rumor mill had him at Baylor, but he actually landed at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, to study business entrepreneurship. It’s only about 45 minutes from the farm. He’s still close enough to bring his laundry home on the weekends—which Joanna has joked about more than once.
Then there’s Ella Rose Gaines.
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This was the one that really hit Joanna hard. Unlike Drake, who stayed in the Texas bubble, Ella decided she needed to "be known for her" and not just as the daughter of the Magnolia founders. She moved across the country to New York City.
She’s currently a freshman at Parsons School of Design.
Think about that for a second. From a quiet farm in Waco to the chaos of Manhattan. It’s a bold move. Joanna admitted in a 2025 interview on Today that she actually "lost it" when Ella left. It makes sense. They were always the "rhythm" of each other’s days—hitting up antique shops and plant nurseries together.
What the Dorm Rooms Actually Look Like
Everyone wants to know: Did Joanna Gaines design her kids' dorm rooms?
The answer is a surprising "no"—at least for Ella.
Joanna actually had to force herself to step back. She wanted Ella to have her own vision. Ella didn't want the signature Magnolia look; she wanted to find her own style. She’s been interning at Magnolia for years, but when it came to her own space in NYC, she took the lead.
- Drake's Apartment: Joanna did help him a bit more with his college apartment. She posted snippets of a "rustic" setup with leather accents and a very empty fridge (mostly just ranch dressing).
- Ella’s Dorm: No shiplap. It’s more of a "cool girl" aesthetic that fits the New York vibe.
- The Shared Passion: Even though she's in the Big Apple, Ella took her "plant babies" with her. Or at least some of them. Joanna is currently the primary caretaker of the massive plant collection Ella left behind in her bedroom.
How Chip and Joanna Are Handling the Empty Nest (Sorta)
They aren't empty nesters yet. Not even close.
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While the two oldest are away, there are still three kids at home: Duke (17), Emmie Kay (15), and the "surprise" of the family, Crew (7).
But the dynamic has shifted. Duke is already driving. He’s the comedian of the group, and he’s likely the next one to head off. You can see the shift in Joanna’s social media. She’s clinging to the small moments with Crew—like riding his mini motorbike across the lawn just to feel like a kid again.
The "Gaines House Rule" is also a major factor in how they prepped for college. If you didn't know, Chip and Jo have a strict rule: No social media until the summer before college.
Ella only got her private Instagram account right before she left for Parsons. Drake did the same. They wanted their kids to have a "normal" childhood away from the comments section. It’s a polarizing choice, but honestly? It seems to have kept them remarkably grounded despite the fame.
The Financial and Emotional Reality
Let's be real: The Gaines family doesn't have to worry about student loans. They’ve built an empire. But they are still very focused on the kids working. Ella spent her final summer interning in the Magnolia offices, sitting in on high-level vision meetings.
Chip has said they want their kids to be "the next president" or whatever they dream of, but they have to earn it.
The emotional toll on Joanna is the part people relate to most. She described the college send-off as a "tidal wave." It’s that weird middle ground where you want them to grow, but you also want them to stay 5 years old forever.
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What’s Next for the Rest of the Kids?
With Duke turning 18 soon, the cycle starts all over again.
- Duke (17): He’s into baseball and filming. Expect him to look at schools with strong sports or media programs.
- Emmie Kay (15): She’s the baker. She already has her own cookie recipes and a strong floral design eye. She’ll likely follow Ella’s lead toward a creative school.
- Crew (7): He’s the anchor. He’s the reason the house isn’t totally silent.
If you're a parent going through this, Joanna's advice is basically to "lean on each other." She’s been very open about the fact that proximity isn't what connects them anymore—it's the "listening ear" and the care packages.
Practical Takeaways for Your Own "Nest" Transition
Watching the Gaines family navigate this offers some pretty solid perspective for the rest of us.
- Let them lead the design: Even if you're a pro (or just think you are), let your kid pick their own duvet cover. It’s their first territory of independence.
- Boundaries work: The no-social-media rule might be extreme for some, but delaying the "digital world" seems to have given the Gaines kids a much stronger sense of self before hitting the college scene.
- Embrace the "Raw" Feelings: Don't try to be "brave" when they leave. Joanna didn't. She cried, she posted about it, and she moved on. It’s okay to feel like you’re losing a friend.
The Magnolia story started with a small shop on Bosque Blvd. Now it’s a national phenomenon, but the heart of it has always been the family. Seeing the kids go to college is just the next chapter in a very public "fixer upper" of a life.
Keep an eye on Ella’s design career in NYC—she’s definitely the one to watch if you’re looking for the next generation of the Magnolia legacy.
To stay ahead of the curve as your own kids approach these milestones, start by auditing your family's digital boundaries and looking into schools that offer specific niche programs like Parsons or Mary Hardin-Baylor, depending on whether your child is a "big city" dreamer or a "close to home" entrepreneur.