Is it Even Worth Going to University Anymore?

Published on 02/06/2025

To uni or not to uni? - That is the question.

With tuition fees climbing past £9,500 a year and student debt reaching £45,000 over the course of a three-year degree, is university still the golden ticket it once was, or are apprenticeships and vocational training a smarter bet?

Let’s examine the real costs, benefits, and alternatives to help you make an informed decision.

The Rising Costs of University

For UK students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, tuition fees now reach up to £9,250 per year, rising to £9,535 from August 2024, according to Times Money Mentor. That’s £28,605 for a typical 3-year degree, and that’s before you factor in living costs (i.e., student accommodation/rent, bills, utilities, food, and drink).

  • Scottish Nationals don’t pay for tuition in Scotland, but others from the UK do.
  • Northern Irish students staying in their home country face roughly £4,750 per year.
  • International students can pay upwards of £16,500 annually, depending on the university.

Living expenses add a significant additional burden to any prospective student. Rent, food, and travel expenses often exceed the maintenance loans available to the average student. Many students now work an average of 14.5 hours per week to make ends meet, according to Save the Student. While some students can rely on family and friends for financial support and guidance, this isn’t true for all.

A 2023 report by the APPUG (All-Party Parliamentary University Group) revealed confusion among students: one Year 13 student from Sheffield said, “I didn’t really know how [university] worked, I just based it off my sister.” These findings appear to be widespread, with a growing sentiment that traditional schooling is failing to adequately prepare students for higher education and university life.

Is the Investment Worth It?

The Resolution Foundation estimates that a UK undergraduate degree can be worth up to £280,000 in lifetime earnings for men and approximately £190,000 for women, after tax and loan repayments.

By age 31, graduates can earn as much as 37% more than non-graduates: £30,750 vs. £22,500 on average.

Money isn’t everything, but it is important to clarify the financial burden of higher education. Beyond income, however, university offers:

The Downsides You Shouldn’t Ignore

  • Student debt: Total debt can exceed £45,000. While you will begin to pay this off as you earn, it is a significant and long-term commitment. For more information on student loans, check out this guide by The Student Loans Company.
  • Limited contact time: Some courses offer as little as 8 hours of lectures a week (UCAS). Rising tuition fees, funding cuts, and an increased focus on marketing to international students over core academic resources may all contribute to a decline in the overall quality of academic contact time that students receive.
  • Accommodation pressure: High costs and accommodation shortages worsen the student experience, according to the BBC.

Your Alternatives to University

Not everyone needs a degree to thrive. Here are viable and often well-paying alternatives:

1. Degree Apprenticeships

  • Degree Apprenticeships combine paid work with study, providing a perfect opportunity for school leavers looking to enter the workforce and continue their education.
  • Employers provide financial support and bursaries to enable employees to continue their studies, thereby reducing debt while increasing hands-on experience.
  • Potential Downsides: According to the Resolution Foundation, Degree Apprenticeships may show lower completion rates (55%) due to their often demanding work/study schedules.

2. Distance or Part-Time Learning

  • Living at home and completing your studies via distance or part-time learning provides additional flexibility and can offer much-needed financial relief, dramatically reducing or even eliminating the costs of maintenance loans.
  • Secondary financial benefits include the ability to hold down part-time work in your local area.
  • Potential Downsides: Like Degree Apprenticeships, distance or part-time learning requires strong time management skills. It may also limit the highly beneficial social elements and learning experiences that come with studying at university.

Pro Tip: Consider if a mixed approach to studying is best for you. For example, consider living in student accommodation for the first year, and consider distance learning for the second two years of your undergraduate degree, when course requirements are far more intense. After all, is it worth the financial investment to live away, if all you are doing in your second and third year is studying in the university library?

3. Well-Paid Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree

Not all high-paying jobs require a university degree. Here is a short list of some of the highest-paying UK jobs perfect for school leavers:

  • Air Traffic Controller – £50,000+
  • Commercial Pilot (with private training) – £60,000+
  • Senior Construction Manager – £45,000+
  • Mortgage Advisor - £45,000+
  • Police Inspector – £50,000+
  • Web Developer / IT Support – £30,000–£60,000+
  • Real Estate Agent - £45,000+
  • Electrician - £36,000+
  • Train Driver - £48,000-£61,000

Whether you go to uni, start an apprenticeship, or jump straight into the workforce, make sure you choose the path that leads to your version of success.

At Mereo Talent, we would always recommend pursuing what you are most passionate about. However, we are acutely aware that the cost of living only seems to be heading in one direction for now, and that we have no choice but to explore higher-paying opportunities, while this continues.

Our advice would be to carefully research the earning potential of any career path and explore work experience opportunities as early as you can. Work experience is available to current students, including GCSE and A-level. Industrial placements and internships are available as early as A Level, as well as between and throughout higher education.