As reported by the Guardian, public faith in the benefits of a university degree has fallen sharply over the past two decades, as rising costs and growing concerns about student debt reshape attitudes towards higher education
New findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey show that 34% of people now believe a university education is not worth the investment of time and money, up from just 14% in 2005.
The survey also found declining confidence in the financial advantages of higher education. The proportion of people who think graduates are likely to be substantially better off than non-graduates has dropped from 50% to 36% over the same period.
The shift comes against a backdrop of significant expansion across the university sector. In 1983, around 6% of school leavers went on to higher education, compared with 36% today, while more than two million UK students are now enrolled at university.
At the same time, concerns have grown over the cost of student finance, with repayment thresholds repeatedly frozen rather than rising with inflation. Current plans will see thresholds remain unchanged for a further three years from 2027.
Questions have also been raised about the long-term burden facing graduates, particularly in light of interest rates on student loans that have increased faster than inflation, adding to concerns about the value of a degree.
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