1 in 4 Gen Z workers regret college, survey finds

Nearly 1 in 4 Gen Z workers regret going to college or wish they had pursued a more lucrative career, while 1 in 5 say their degree did not contribute to their current job, according to a ResumeGenius survey of 1,000 full-time employees conducted in April and May 2025. The report found 23% would choose differently, often citing fields such as technology, finance, engineering or healthcare.

Why some would choose differently: Among those with regrets, 22% would enter a higher-paying industry, 13% would learn a skilled trade or pursue a non-degree path, and 12% would follow creative or passion-driven work. Another 11% would pick the same field but attend a less costly school, while 10% would focus on entrepreneurship. Only 32% of all respondents said they were satisfied with their education and would not change it, while 91% said work-life balance is important or very important to their career success.
Who feels the most regret: Regret varied by gender and education level. Twenty-eight percent of men reported dissatisfaction compared to 19% of women. Satisfaction rose with advanced degrees, reaching 44% among those with a master’s or higher, 40% among bachelor’s holders, 26% for associate degrees and 25% for those with some college but no degree.
Job market trends intensify concerns: The results follow a March poll showing over half of Gen Z professionals doubt the value of a degree, with nearly one-third saying artificial intelligence has already made theirs obsolete. These findings align with recent data showing unemployment among recent Gen Z graduates has climbed to 5.8%, up from 3% a year earlier.

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