More Than A Third Of Americans Wish To Redo Their College Experience Amid Evolving Job Market

More than a third of Americans (38%) say theyd redo their college experience if given the chance.

A new survey of 2,000 adults, conducted by Talker Research for Colorado State University Global (CSU Global), found that both college graduates and non-graduates alike would make different choices today — including 43% of those who earned a degree. For many, the motivation stems from wanting to pursue a different career path or earn more money. Nearly a quarter said theyd consider getting a new degree (22%) or certification related to their field (30%).

While one in four admitted they werent interested in attending college at the typical age, 34% said they are now. The average respondent has experienced three major life changes over the past five years, and one in eight have made at least one per year. The most common include illness or loss in the family (41%), changing jobs or careers (37%), or moving within their state (24%).

Among those who changed jobs or careers within the past five years, the average respondent has done so twice, and one in six said they felt unprepared. A third of employed respondents said the current job market “very much” influences their desire to redo their college experience.

Nearly two in three Americans (63%) believe that earning a practical degree that provides useful skills would be relevant to them today, even if not required for their job. Half of those who pursued higher education said they originally obtained a practical degree (51%), most often in education, business or communications, or healthcare (10% each).

A majority of college-educated workers (68%) said their degree remains relevant to their current field, while 18% said it does not. Respondents named the most useful degrees in todays job market as artificial intelligence and machine learning (20%), healthcare (13%), cybersecurity (13%), accounting (13%), and business or economics (9%).

“Now driven by the infusion of technology in every industry, the job market has gone through rapid change over the past several years, causing the skills that professionals need to succeed in the workplace to also evolve,” said Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker, president of Colorado State University Global. “As a high-demand skill a few years ago may be different today, it is important to continually refresh your understanding of how different industries and their needs have evolved, so staying current through reskilling or upskilling is key to maintaining a competitive edge.”

The AI boom has added to these concerns: 39% of employed respondents said they worry their field could be changed or phased out by AI, and 45% believe theyd benefit professionally by improving their AI-related skills.

Still, many respondents cited barriers to returning to school. Forty-five percent said the college experience today feels different than five years ago, and 57% believe its changed over the past decade. Financial concerns (30%), competing priorities (22%), and lack of time (21%) were the top obstacles.

If they were to attend college today, respondents said their top reasons would be to explore a new career path (16%), make more money (16%), learn something new (15%), pursue more upskilling opportunities (11%), or simply savor the experience (10%).

When it comes to how theyd want to attend, more than half (54%) said theyd prefer hybrid or fully online classes over traditional, in-person instruction.

“Higher education looks very different today,” said Dr. Takeda-Tinker. “The traditional model of in-person classes at fixed times is no longer the default for modern learners as they seek to remain relevant in their industries while trying to juggle work and the continual skilling needed in todays dynamic times. With the high-quality, 100% online, asynchronous program options now available, working professionals who need to balance lifes many responsibilities can consider these options that will allow them to expand their skills and improve their marketability without having to put their careers on hold or sacrifice time with their family members and communities.”