According to a study by Cygnus Applied Research, many college alumni aren't donating to their alma maters because they think other charitable causes are more worthy or need the money more.

Almost 47 percent of alumni who don't donate say other nonprofits need the money more. More than 39 percent say other causes are more worthy, and 25 percent say their philanthropy is committed to other causes (more than one answer was allowed).

About one in four alumni who don't currently donate said nothing would change their mind about donating, while a similar number said they would be more likely to donate if they made more money or if they could allocate where in the school their donation goes.

About one in five alumni that don't donate say their college already got enough money from their "expensive education." Only 8 percent said they wouldn't consider giving until their student debt was paid off.

Interestingly, the survey found that student debt wasn't a factor in whether alumni gave or not. About 38 percent of alumni who gave had student debt, while 37 percent of alumni who didn't donate had student debt.

Only 12 percent said they didn't have enough money to consider donating. About 8 percent said their college hadn't asked them for money.

The survey was completed by more than 6,200 college graduates who give to charity but haven't donated to their alma maters.

Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.