Does Society Put Too Much Emphasis on Going to University?

Although countless employment pathways exist today, university rightly remains highly encouraged. The social mobility, integration and economic opportunity that university provides are essential to the positive functioning of society.

1) Social Mobility - Societal emphasis on attending university does not exist for all, particularly the working classes. Independently educated A-level students are more than twice as likely to progress to higher education by the age of nineteen than state-educated students. State-educated students from more disadvantaged backgrounds are frequently socially excluded from conversations surrounding university, meaning they aren’t encouraged to go even when it may be right for them. Greater emphasis on university attendance could increase aspirations and showcase opportunities to those who are not the usual focus of said societal pressure.

Greater emphasis on university could increase aspirations and showcase opportunities to those who are not the usual focus of societal pressure

2) Social Integration - Young people generally leave their home towns to go to university and will debate issues with students from across the world. This provides a holistic outlook on life, understanding and empathy for others and critical thinking skills, forming generations with a greater tolerance for the differences within their communities, leading to a more harmonious society.

3) Financial Security - University is often encouraged due to its financial prospects. In 2023, the employment rate was 87.7% for graduates and 69.7% for non-graduates. The median nominal salary for working-age graduates was £40,000, whereas it was £29,500 for non-graduates. The notion that university is better for employment prospects is a reality based on evidence.

More and more young people are choosing, or indeed feeling they have to, go to university because of the well-paid and high-achieving jobs that many degrees can lead to. However, society puts too much emphasis on university to the point where young people feel pressured to do something that may not be best for them.

1) Societal Pressure - 35.8% of 18-year-olds went to university in 2023, up from 24.7% in 2006. This illustrates the increasing value that young people put on gaining a degree. However, this increasing number can also be attributed to the fact that young people feel pressure to go to university - around half said they felt such pressure in recent surveys. This is making it difficult for young people to make independent choices as they follow what society tells them to do rather than what is best for them.

Young people feel pressure to go to university, making it difficult for them to make independent choices

2) Career Perceptions - Increasing numbers of young people are going to university to secure top jobs that pay well. This is largely because society promotes the idea that the value of a career is only in the salary and discourages people from pursuing careers that may be more fulfilling or are of more benefit to society. 

3) Better Alternatives - While for many people, going to university is the right path and will lead to a fulfilling working life, society’s emphasis on university makes people less aware of the alternatives. For example, apprenticeships can provide a great route into a number of different careers and have the added benefit of incorporating work experience as well as earning rather than incurring student debt.