Is university worth it? Higher education and social mobility

According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, a third of British people now think that university isn’t worth it, as reported by the BBC today. 

Here at The Access Project, our mission is to support young people to access top universities in order to achieve social mobility. This has always been our core focus as we strive for a fairer society where every young person, regardless of background, can thrive in education and unlock their potential.  

Yet times are changing. It is our responsibility to be aware of the shifting landscape, to listen to our students about their experiences, to study recent external research and data, and interrogate our own processes. Financial challenges can – and do – affect students’ decisions, as shown in our 2024 research report, Cost of Living and University Choices, and we welcome today’s inquiry into the student loan system, particularly Plan 2 loans taken out between 2003 and 2023. High potential under-resourced students, including the ones on our programmes, deserve the opportunity to decide their future based on their talent and aspirations, not on their socio-economic background. 

Why do we continue to champion top universities as a key route to social mobility? 

Increased earnings and social mobility

According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, pupils on Free School Meals (FSM) become almost four times more likely to become socially mobile and end up as a high earner if they attend university, increasing their ability to realise their full potential. In addition, further evidence from the Institute for Fiscal Studies confirms that university attendance yields significant lifetime earnings premiums, even when adjusting for background and prior attainment.   

2025 government data shows that graduates earn substantially more than non‑graduates - up to 96% more in certain sectors - highlighting the widespread economic value of higher education. Areas with higher proportions of graduates also show increased productivity and economic performance.  

Improving employability

Attending a top university in the UK provides significant long-term advantages in employment outcomes, earnings, and access to high-skilled careers. According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2024 over 67.9% of graduates were in high-skilled employment compared to only 23.7% of non-graduates.   

Quality of life

In addition to the economic benefits of higher education, graduates also report higher quality of life and tend to be more engaged in their communities. Graduates are twice as likely to report excellent health and are 80% less likely to smoke compared to individuals with no qualifications. Graduates are also more likely to participate in their communities through volunteering and political participation, and are 33% more likely to vote.  

Skills development and social benefits

The university experience is not just about being awarded a qualification. A 2024 report by The Sutton Trust shows that 96% of teachers think life skills are as or more important than formal qualifications. Throughout a student’s time as an undergraduate, a wide range of skills are developed including communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving, time management, teamwork and leadership, adaptability and resilience, independence, financial management, digital skills and usage of AI, self-awareness and confidence, and people skills. The Access Project’s Skills for Access coaching module, a key part of our programme, has been devised to develop these skills  and support young people as they continue to build on these critical skills for work and life.  

What happens if we shift our focus away from quality higher education?

As part of the exploration of the importance and viability of attending a top university, not only should we ask the question ‘why?’ but also the question ‘why not?’ 

According to The Sutton Trust, students from disadvantaged and low-participation areas remain under-represented at top universities. If young people from families from lower socio-economic backgrounds opt out of attending top universities, this access gap will continue to widen and inequalities will deepen. Top universities should be populated by those with the most talent, potential and motivation, not those with the most wealth and resources. 

Our commitment to the young people on our programmes

We are committed to exploring all educational pathways for young people and supporting those routes that we believe are the most impactful for those from under-resourced backgrounds.  We work with each of the students on our programme on a 1:1 basis to help them decide the best route for them – whether that is university or a degree apprenticeship – to realise their potential and ultimately achieve the best chance of social mobility.  

We will continue to support students to navigate student finance, offer free university trips to those in Years 10 and 12, and highlight external opportunities, such as bursaries and scholarships, that will ease the financial burden.  

We remain committed to listening to our students and amplifying their voices, alongside partner organisations in the sector, in order to highlight inequalities and bring about change. We look to the reintroduction and roll-out of maintenance grants, calling for fewer restrictions, and a simplified, better supported loans system.