Confidence in the value of going to university has slumped amid declining job prospects and anger over student debt, a major survey of public opinion has found.
The latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey found fewer people believe university is worth the time and money than 20 years ago.
The number of people saying it is not worth going to university hit a record high of 34% last year, more than twice the 15% who said the same thing in 2005.
Meanwhile, the belief that graduates are better off in the long run has collapsed from 50% in 2005 to 36%.
The findings of the BSA come amid pressure to reform the student loan system, with recent graduates describing it as unfair due to high interest rates and the unlikelihood of paying off the debt.
At the same time, opportunities for graduates have reduced, with 700,000 now out of work and receiving benefits – an increase of 200,000 since 2019, according to the Centre for Social Justice think tank.
Some politicians have also called for a reduction in student numbers and a greater focus on vocational education, with both the Conservatives and Reform UK backing cuts in numbers.
But the BSA most people continue to believe that opportunities for young people to go to university should either increase or remain the same, with only 18% backing a reduction.
However, some 42% of people also said there were too many recent graduates, rising to 49% among those with degrees, with only 10% of the public saying there were not enough.
Alex Scholes, a BSA co-author, warned that declining confidence in universities risked further exacerbating financial problems in the higher education sector.
He said: “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.
“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 carried out by the National Centre for Social Research between August and October 2025, and polled 4,656 people across the UK.
