New research reveals a third of people in England now believe a university degree is not worth the time and money involved.
The British Social Attitudes survey found that 34% of people in 2025 agreed a university education “just isn’t worth the amount of time and money,” up from 14% in 2005.
This represents the highest level of concern about degree value recorded in 20 years, with a simultaneous decline in those who believe graduates end up “a lot better off.”
The proportion believing university leaves graduates significantly better off in the long run has fallen from 50% in 2005 to 36% in 2025.
Against this backdrop, the Treasury Select Committee of MPs began hearing evidence on Tuesday from student organisations and experts about the student loan system in England.
More than 50,000 people have submitted written evidence to MPs, with many graduates saying they did not understand the terms of their student loans when they signed up.
Those most affected include graduates who took out Plan 2 loans between 2012 and 2023, many of whom have seen their debts grow despite making regular repayments.
Gemma, who now works for a Tech company, contacted the BBC to share her experience, revealing her debt has grown from £34,105 after graduating in 2016 to £41,908 because accumulating interest is outstripping her repayments.
Despite earning just under £50,000 a year after coming from a low-income background, Gemma described living with the loan as “draining.”
“It feels like I’m constantly chasing a debt that gets bigger over time; it feels like climbing a mountain,” she said.
Now 33, Gemma said the student loan had contributed to her decision to delay starting a family, because interest would still accrue during maternity leave even though repayments would pause.
The National Union of Students has called on the government to reconsider its decision to freeze the graduate repayment threshold at £29,385 from April 2027 for three years.
Alex Stanley from the NUS said a longer-term “course correction” was needed to avoid a generation being unable to buy a home or start a family.
The graduate campaign group Rethink Repayment argued the repayment threshold freeze was against the original terms of the student loans agreed with borrowers.
Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, acknowledged the challenging labour market but said data shows graduates “are more likely to have a job, earn more and have better health.”
She added: “A university education doesn’t just benefit the individual. If we want our country to grow, we need more graduates entering the labour market.”
The government defended its position, stating it had capped interest rates on Plan 2 loans at 6% and raised the graduate repayment threshold for the first time since 2021.
In a statement, the government said: “We recognise that some graduates have concerns about the cost of student loan repayments and understand why this is an important issue.”