Third of people say uni degree not worth it, as student loan inquiry begins

An inquiry by MPs into the student loan system in England has begun, with evidence from student organisations and experts.

The National Union of Students (NUS) said the inquiry should look at the graduate earnings repayment threshold and interest rates.

But the government said the current student loan system protected lower-earning graduates, with repayments linked to earnings and loans written off at the end of their term.

New research published separately suggests a third of people now think a university degree isn't worth the time and money.

The British Social Attitudes survey has tracked public opinion over key issues, including university education, for decades.

Their research, published on Tuesday, 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.

At the same time, there has been a decline in those who believe going to university leaves graduates "a lot better off" in the long run, down from 50% in 2005 to 36% in 2025.

Against that background of wider public unease, the Treasury Select Committee of MPs will hear the concerns of graduates about the size of their debts, and the interest rates.

Among those most worried are graduates who took out what are called Plan 2 loans between 2012 and 2023.

Gemma, who now works for a tech company, is one of those graduates who contacted the BBC through Your Voice to share her frustration.

Just after she graduated in 2016, her debt was £34,105 - but her latest balance statement shows it's now £41,908 because the interest accumulating is outstripping her repayments.

Gemma said her degree was worth it, taking her from a low-income background into a job where she now earns just under £50,000 a year, but living with the loan is "draining".