Recent estimates indicate that as many as a quarter of UK graduates can expect to be financially worse off as a result of attending university. This figure is highlighted in a debate about the value of higher education, considering rising student debt, increasing cost of living, and the impact of AI on employer skill requirements.
Data from 2024 shows that over 40 per cent of students were not in full-time employment 15 months after graduating. Furthermore, more than one in ten graduates are reported to earn less than the national living wage five years after completing their degree.
Amy Lawrence, managing director for PR & communications agency Gingermay, argues that university often does not offer enough value to justify its cost. Conversely, Pegram Harrison, head of the undergraduate degree Economics and Management at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, suggests that the value of university extends beyond financial returns, encompassing increased capabilities, wider opportunities, and greater resilience.