Half of US Adults Would Change At Least One Education Decision

Used in 2 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] Gap year vs. straight to university Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   31% of graduates wish they had taken time to explore options before starting higher education; among Gen Z respondents: 47%

   “"About 31 percent of college graduates say, if they could do it over, they would have taken time to explore their options before enrolling. Among those ages 18 to 29, that figure rises to 47 percent — the highest of any age group surveyed."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup 2017 survey of approximately 3,200 US adults. The 31% figure is the headline for all graduates. The 47% figure among Gen Z respondents represents more recent cohorts who came of age during high tuition inflation. We use 38% as the midpoint estimate, reflecting the blended rate across the full age distribution weighted toward younger cohorts who are closer to the decision and have stronger recall.
   

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

2. [2] PhD vs. entering industry early Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   Among adults who completed a 4-year degree and did not pursue graduate education, 19% said they would have pursued more education if they could change their path

   “"Among adults who completed a bachelor's degree and did not pursue postgraduate study, 19 percent said they would have pursued more education if given the opportunity to change their educational path. The proportion was higher in fields where advanced credentials are more commonly required for senior roles, such as research, medicine, and law."”

   Calculation notes

   Gallup 2017 education decisions survey, approximately 3,200 US adults. The 19% figure is drawn from the subset of respondents who completed a four-year degree but did not go on to graduate study, and who said they would have pursued more education if they could change their decisions. This is a broad graduate- education aspiration measure rather than a PhD-specific regret rate, but it is the closest direct survey measure available. In PhD-relevant research-adjacent fields (sciences, engineering, academia-track humanities), the proportion would be higher; in fields where a PhD carries no career premium, lower.
   

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