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This report provides initial insights and sets a foundation for additional research about how postsecondary leaders, policy makers, educators and employers can help students most effectively and efficiently achieve their economic and personal goals.
More than half of Americans (51%) would change at least one of their education decisions if they had to do it all over again
Those with some college but no degree are the most likely to say they would change a decision
Individuals who complete a vocational, trade or technical program are more positive about their education decisions than are individuals with an associate or bachelor’s degr
Individuals who attended a for-profit institution at the sub-baccalaureate level or who attended a private, nonprofit institution at the two-year level are more likely to regret their decisions thatn those who earned credentials from other institutions.
Bachelor’s degree holders who completed their education later in life reflect more positively on their education choices than do those who completed at a younger age.
STEM graduates at all education levels are the least likely to report they would make different education decisions.
This report provides initial insights and sets a foundation for additional research about how postsecondary leaders, policymakers, educators and employers can help students most effectively and efficiently achieve their economic and personal goals.
About half of all U.S. adults would change at least one of the decisions they made along their education path, whether that be choosing a different major of field of study, a different institution, or another degree type.
Those with some college but no degree are the most likely to say they would change at least one of these three education decision, which may not be surprising given that many may feel that they have little to show for their time and financial investment.
The desire to make different education decision varies by the type of institution individual attended. Individuals who received their degree from the most selective public and private four-year schools are the least likely to indicate they would change their education decisions. Meanwhile, adults who attended for-profit, certificate-granting institutions, private nonprofit two-year schools and for-profit two-year schools are most likely to say they would change at least one of their education decisions.
As might be expected, the relationship between a desire to change education decisions and student loan amount is concentrated among those who would change which institution they attended – since the cost of attendance varies substantially across different higher education institutions.
Regardless of their age at the time of graduation, few bachelor’s degree holders would pursue a different degree. However, those aged 30 or older at the time of their graduation are less likely than those under age 30 at the time of their graduation to say they would pursue a different field of study.
Most notably, those who studied STEM fields to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree are the least likely to report they would choose another major, while those who studied liberal arts are the most likely to say they would change their field of study.
Though more than half of U.S. adults say they would make at least one different education decision, about four in five adults who completed a credential or a degree either agree or strongly agree that they received a high-quality education.
When it comes to education after high school, Americans know what they value and why. At Strada Education Network, we are listening to what they have to say and leveraging their insights about experiences and outcomes to forge more purposeful pathways between education and careers.
Gallup strategically partners with institutions to conduct custom research and implement best practices that create environments in which students and employees thrive.
Among students who have work-based learning experiences, those with paid internships stand out for their increased earning power, confidence in themselves, and recognition of the value of their education.
Two centuries after the first historically Black colleges and universities were founded, the 101 accredited HBCUs in operation today continue to deliver on their legacy of expanding educational opportunity for Black students that leads to successful and fulfilling lives.
As a field, higher education has experienced a continuing evolution in how to measure success. For nearly five decades success efforts were focused on access, followed by the past decade and a half pursuing completion, and the field now has a growing focus on the value of a degree and student outcomes beyond completion.
Strada’s prior research on undergraduate perceptions of the value of their education demonstrates that students value their education most when they receive support to connect their education and career interests.
The baccalaureate degree remains the surest path to economic mobility, employment stability, and a host of associated social benefits.
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Nondegree credentials have been growing rapidly for decades. Questions about their quality and value, however, remain.
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