Do you regret what you studied for four — or maybe even five — years of college? You’re not alone.
According to a Federal Reserve survey, 38% of people with a bachelor’s degree would have studied something else.
The most regretted fields of studies were humanities and the arts; 48% of those surveyed would make a different choice if they could go back in time, while 46% of social and behavioral science students would have also studied something different.
The study included in the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2021 showed vocational training and education also had higher rates of regret from former students. Around 40% of people who studied those fields would have chosen a different area of study.
On the other end of the spectrum were people who received STEM education. Engineering students had the least regret; only 24% said they would have changed. Computer science, health and math degrees were the next lowest — around a third said they would change it up.
Below are the fields of study and what percentage of people would have chosen something different.
A look on the bright side: Few people of any education level said they would have completed less education if they could make their decisions again.
