If nothing changes in higher education reform, expect this number to rise.

Red Alert Politics reports.

Poll: College grads have big regrets, clearly didn’t consider costs

If graduates thought more about college costs before attending college, the majority would have a radically different university experience.

A survey from Student Loan Hero discovered that only 36 percent of graduates said they “wouldn’t do anything differently” based on the actual cost of their education.

For the rest, however, economic reality has prodded them to have some regrets. And for good reason. “This year’s graduates who borrowed money for college will leave with an average of $37,137 in student loans,” Casey Bond wrote in the survey results, a six percent increase from a year ago.

About a quarter of graduates would “take fewer semesters to graduate.” Colleges advertise bachelor’s degrees as a four-year degree, but more students have to take an extra semester or year to complete it. The Department of Education reports graduation rates in six-year, not four-year, terms. Only six in 10 students graduate within that time frame. For students who fell behind, that extra time can mean thousands of dollars in unexpected students loans.

Another 18 percent of graduates would have chosen a less-expensive college. The majority of students decide to attend college because of its economic value. Many college presidents refuse to accept that reality and educate students about their economic prospects with a degree. Consequently, the cost of a college doesn’t always reflect its value. The most prestigious institutions aren’t necessarily the best colleges to attend if students want an income boost, as The Economist found in their rankings. As in other ways, millennials show their concern about an economy that’s still difficult for young workers.

Some students didn’t mind the price or type of college they attended, but they regretted their course of study. About 13 percent of graduates would have chosen a different major. Those students found their major disappointing, unfulfilling, or not in demand in the job market.