Half of U.S. Adults Would Change at Least One Education Decision

Used in 6 entries

For each citing entry, the verbatim excerpt and Likelier's calculation notes (how the source's number was converted to the lifetime-probability framing) are shown below. Click through to read the full claim ledger.

1. [1] Drop out vs. finish degree Decision · action side

   Statistic

   59% of adults with some college but no degree would change at least one education decision; 42% would change their major

   “"Those with some college, but no degree, are the most likely to say they would change at least one of their education decisions" at 59%. "Those with some college, but no degree, and those whose highest level of education is a bachelor's degree are the most likely to have second thoughts about their major, 42% and 40%, respectively."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup/Strada Education Network Education Consumer Pulse 2017 survey, n=approximately 87,000 US adults. The survey measures whether respondents "would change at least one education decision" (major, institution, or degree type), not whether they "wish they had completed" the degree -- no item in this survey asks the completion-regret question directly. Among the some-college-no-degree group, 59% would change at least one decision, the highest of any education subgroup; their most common second thought is their major (42%). The widely-quoted "51%" is the figure for ALL adults who pursued or completed postsecondary education, not for non-completers. URL updated to the verified Gallup poll page carrying the per-subgroup breakdown.
   

   Source date: 2017-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-06-30

2. [2] Drop out vs. finish degree Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   52% of bachelor's degree holders would change at least one education decision; 40% would change their field of study

   “"Approximately half of all U.S. adults who pursued or completed a postsecondary degree would change at least one aspect of their education experience," with "52% of bachelor's degree holders who say the same." Across all adults, "36% would choose a different field of study," "28% would select a different institution," and "12% would obtain a different degree type."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup/Strada Education Network Education Consumer Pulse 2017 survey, same n=approximately 87,000 sample as the action side. The 52% bachelor's-holder figure is directly comparable to the 59% non-completer rate because both come from the same survey instrument and population frame. The previously-cited "33%" did not appear in the source and has been replaced with the traceable 52% completer figure. Completers' second thoughts are primarily about field of study (40% would change it) and institution rather than the completion decision itself.
   

   Source date: 2017-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-06-30

3. [3] PhD vs. entering industry early Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   Of the three education decisions Gallup asked about, 36% of postsecondary-educated adults would change their field of study, 28% their institution, and 12% would obtain a different degree type

   “"Thirty-six percent of U.S. adults who pursued or completed a postsecondary degree would choose a different field of study. Significantly fewer (28%) would select a different institution, and just 12% would obtain a different degree type."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup survey of 89,492 U.S. adults (June 29, 2016 – March 26, 2017). Gallup asked only about three decisions — field of study, institution, and degree type — and did NOT measure desire for more or higher education. The 12% "would obtain a different degree type" is the only graduate-credential-relevant figure and is included as context bounding the SHED "more education" signal; it is not itself a "wish I had done a PhD" rate. No survey directly measures regret over not pursuing a doctorate.
   

   Source date: 2017-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-06-30

4. [4] Private vs public university Decision · action side

   Statistic

   51% of US adults would change at least one aspect of their education experience; 28% would select a different institution

   “"Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults would change at least one aspect of their education experience. Significantly fewer (28%) would select a different institution."”

   Calculation notes

   Strada-Gallup Education Consumer Pulse survey, n approximately 90,000 US adults, June 2016 through March 2017. Report does not isolate private-4yr vs public-4yr regret rates as separate figures; used here as corroboration that institution-choice regret exists but is secondary to field-of-study regret.
   

   Source date: 2017-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-05-01

5. [5] Private vs public university Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   51% of US adults would change at least one aspect of their education experience; 36% would choose a different field of study; 28% would select a different institution

   “"Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults would change at least one aspect of their education experience. Thirty-six percent of U.S. adults who pursued or completed a postsecondary degree would choose a different field of study. Significantly fewer (28%) would select a different institution."”

   Calculation notes

   The 28% who would choose a different institution includes all institution-type switches and is not specific to public-to-private transitions. Used here to establish that institution-choice regret exists but is secondary to major/field regret.
   

   Source date: 2017-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-05-01

6. [6] Student debt vs. cheaper path Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   59% of US adults with some college but no degree would change at least one of their education decisions; 51% of all US adults would change at least one aspect

   “"Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults would change at least one aspect of their education experience. ... Those with some college, but no degree, are the most likely to say they would change at least one of their education decisions, 59%. ... Those with some college, but no degree, ... are the most likely to have second thoughts about their major, 42%."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup/Strada Education Consumer Pulse survey of 89,492 US adults (interviews June 2016–March 2017). The inaction-side population for this decision — people who pursued a cheaper path and stopped short of a 4-year degree — maps most closely to the "some college, but no degree" group, of whom 59% would change at least one education decision. This is the best available proxy for inaction regret; it is a "would change something" measure, not a direct "regret choosing the cheaper path" measure, and includes those who would change their institution or major rather than their degree level.
   

   Source date: 2017-08-01 · Accessed: 2026-05-13