British public losing faith in university value amid student debt and job fears
Confidence in the value of a university education is falling, driven by declining job opportunities for graduates and widespread anger over student debt, a new survey has found.
The latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey has found that significantly fewer people believe university is worth the time and financial investment than two decades ago.
A record 34 percent of respondents last year said higher education was not valuable; This rate was more than double the 15 percent who held this view in 2005.
Moreover, the belief that graduates are better off in the long run has fallen to 36 percent from 50 percent in 2005.
These findings come amid growing calls to reform the student loan system, which many recent graduates see as unfair due to high interest rates and a slim chance of repaying their loans in full.
Simultaneously, 700,000 degree holders are unemployed and claiming benefits, up 200,000 since 2019, according to the Center for Social Justice think tank, while graduate opportunities have diminished.
While some politicians, including the Conservatives and Reform UK, advocate reducing student numbers and placing greater emphasis on vocational training, the BSA poll shows most people believe opportunities for young people to go to university should either increase or remain stable, with only 18 per cent supporting a reduction.
However, 42 percent of the public (this rate rises to 49 percent among those with a diploma) think that there are too many new graduates.
Alex Scholes, a co-author of the BSA report, warned that this erosion of trust poses a significant risk to the financial stability of the higher education sector. He stated: “Universities are not just educational institutions, they are engines of social mobility and economic growth and play a vital role in defining Britain’s cultural role on the world stage.”
Mr Scholes added: “They are also under huge financial pressure and it seems that recent debates about the fairness of student loan repayment systems and the role of AI in the job market are also reflected in people’s views on the value of a degree. If public confidence continues to fall, we risk seeing the financial situation deteriorate further.”
The annual BSA survey was conducted by the National Center for Social Research between August and October 2025, surveying 4,656 people across the UK.
