Survey: 34% Say University Education Isn’t Worth It

On June 2, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) released a report on current public attitudes toward higher education in the United Kingdom.

The report shows that the view that the higher education sector is too large remains a minority opinion. While 18% of respondents believe that opportunities for young people to enter higher education should be reduced—an increase of seven percentage points since 2017—around four in ten (41%) think current participation levels are about right, and 37% believe opportunities should be expanded.

The perception that a university education benefits graduates is less widespread than it was two decades ago, although it remains more common among university graduates themselves. A total of 34% agree that “a university education just isn’t worth the amount of time and money it usually takes,” whereas this figure had never exceeded 20% in previous surveys. People also appear to be increasingly skeptical that graduates enjoy greater financial benefits. Only 36% agree that “in the long run, people who go to university end up being a lot better off financially than those who don’t,” a decline of 10 percentage points since 2018 and the lowest level ever recorded.

These findings are consistent with responses to a separate question asking whether, “considering the cost of a university education nowadays,” a degree represents good value for money. As many as 77% of respondents say that it does not, compared with only 17% who believe it does. This marks a significant shift from 2014, when 51% considered a degree to be good value for money. Although higher education has traditionally been viewed as a pathway to strong employment prospects and greater financial security, the public appears increasingly unconvinced that this promise is being fulfilled.

There remains majority support for students and families contributing at least part of the cost of tuition, although opinions on how this should be implemented do not always align with current government policy. In 2004, 77% believed that all or some students and families should pay tuition fees; today, that figure stands at 69%. In addition, 61% believe that the maximum annual tuition fee should be set below the current cap of £9,535.

The survey also examined public attitudes toward international students. It found that approximately two-thirds of adults in England (67%) believe that the government should impose limits on the number of international students universities are allowed to enroll.

The report concludes that universities and graduates are currently facing a range of interconnected challenges. Many universities are experiencing financial difficulties, while graduates are confronted with substantial student debt, underemployment, and a diminishing “graduate premium.” These challenges have not gone unnoticed by the public, which is now less convinced than in the past that higher education delivers clear benefits for graduates. Fewer people believe that university graduates are financially better off in the long term, and a larger proportion than ever before consider a degree not worth the time and money it typically requires.

However, these concerns have not yet translated into a significant backlash against the size of the higher education sector. Although support for reducing access to university has risen to a comparatively high level, a majority of respondents still believe that opportunities for higher education are either appropriate as they are or should be increased. At the same time, public perceptions of the number of graduates in the labor market have remained broadly unchanged over the past decade.