Public confidence in the value of a university education has plummeted, driven by declining job prospects for graduates and widespread anger over student debt, a major new survey has revealed.
The latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey found that significantly fewer people now believe university is worth the time and financial investment compared to two decades ago.
A record 34 per cent of respondents last year stated that higher education is not worthwhile, more than double the 15 per cent who held this view in 2005.
Furthermore, the conviction that graduates are ultimately better off in the long term has sharply fallen from 50 per cent in 2005 to just 36 per cent.
These findings emerge amidst growing calls for reform of the student loan system, which many recent graduates deem unfair due to high interest rates and the slim likelihood of ever fully repaying their debt.
Concurrently, graduate opportunities have diminished, with 700,000 degree holders now unemployed and claiming benefits – an increase of 200,000 since 2019, according to the Centre for Social Justice think tank.
While some politicians, including the Conservatives and Reform UK, advocate for a reduction in student numbers and a greater emphasis on vocational training, the BSA survey indicates that most people believe opportunities for young people to attend university should either expand or remain constant, with only 18 per cent supporting a decrease.
However, a notable 42 per cent of the public, rising to 49 per cent among those with degrees, also feel there are too many recent graduates.
Alex Scholes, a co-author of the BSA report, cautioned that this erosion of confidence poses a significant risk to the financial stability of the higher education sector. He stated: “Universities are not just education 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 immense financial pressure, and it appears recent debates about the fairness of student loan repayment systems and the role of AI on the job market have filtered through to people’s views about the value of a degree. If public confidence continues to fall, we risk seeing the financial situation become even worse.”
The annual BSA survey was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research between August and October 2025, polling 4,656 individuals across the UK.
