If you are doing STEM then yes, but gender studies or race studies or something useless? No, I can learn useless untrue things on my own I am not going to pay someone to teach me untruth

The course itself is worth it for sure if you're studying a STEM course or something else highly employable, even if it can sometimes take a while to find a full-time job in your field after graduating (although there are plenty of courses where you're paying a ridiculous amount of money to study a meme degree in something Google could just as easily teach you with enough research). But the real reason university is worth it is because for many young people, it's the first experience they'll get living away from home properly, interacting with people and making their way in the world without as much of their family's direct help. And for plenty of those young people, that experience is invaluable. Although this isn't counting those who just go to the university in their home city, live at their parents' house and survive off Daddy's money...

TL;DR The pursuit of knowledge and a depth of understanding, in any topic, is a valuable feat in itself

There are many understandable reasons as to why university is considered not 'worth it'. Financial burdens, time pressures, strains on mental health and elitist cultures are just some of the qualms people have with educational institutions. But as a principle, university is definitely worth it.

University benefits people in a variety of academic ways:

• Being surrounded by peers with like-minded interests encourages students to pursue interesting trains of thought they may not have considered before
• Reading academic literature expands students' vocabulary
• University helps students get experience of independent projects that prepare them for the workplace, such as dissertations
• University gives students access to knowledge that they never would have been able to find otherwise (the inaccessibility of academia, however, is problematic)
• Increasing your knowledge - and nuanced understanding - of different subjects can greatly enrich your life, as it can not only help you discover new passions but it can make you more empathetic to other people through understanding their struggles
• University can improve problem-solving skills

Furthermore, the benefits of university extend beyond the lecture hall:

• For young people, university is often their first real taste of independence
• University can encourage students to interact with people they never would have done otherwise
• Extra-curricular offerings are more easily available at university than anywhere else, building opportunities for team-building, socialising, keeping active and mentally well
• Mature students can rediscover a love of learning and have another opportunity to succeed outside of work and family commitments

More than anything, university is an opportunity for people to pursue what interests them, regardless of the supposed employability or 'usefulness' of their chosen subject. Every degree has meaning, from Chemical Engineering to Philosophy. To say that a degree is only 'worth it' if is in a STEM subject is to miss the point of university completely. Of course people have different priorities, and if employability is the main one then Medicine is probably a better course than English Literature. Nevertheless, English Literature is still worth it.

TL;DR: University is very worthwhile, however like all paths, it is not right for everyone.

• Going to university provides an opportunity to continue in academia and become more educated, which is valuable in itself for many people, including those taking courses that are not geared towards a particular career.

• While 'the school of life' is valuable in other ways, formal academic education with access to library resources, and teaching from experts in different fields should not be looked down on and seen as a waste of time.

• There is also fantastic access to a variety of clubs and an opportunity to meet lots of different people at university.

(This is not to say that the fees are fair or justified, however, it comes down to what is 'worth it' for you personally.)

• For this same reason, university life is not for everyone, as it is just not worth it for every type of person. Starting out in work or learning in other ways is simply more enriching and a better fit for many people, and stress of academic work or culture of university is not always worth the money or time for many.

University is not worth the debt, especially when people rarely use their degree.

• The average student is in £45,000 worth of debt when they finish their degree. This is a huge amount of money.
• At least half of employed people do not use their degree for their job. There is no point having a huge amount of debt over your head for a degree that you will never actually use.
• It appears instead you will be paying £45,000 for a piece of paper with your name on it. You will rarely leave university with something you will actually find useful in employment.

It completely depends on your University experience and what you take from it

• Whether University is 'worth it' or not should not only be derived from your employability or salary in your postgraduate years but also your university experience
• Much of the 'worth' from University is derived from socialisation in many different fields eg. in lectures, societies, partying etc.. It gives you a chance to meet a wide range of people and many of the connection you make are invaluable and are extremely important network contacts for the future
• University gives you an opportunity to explore many [different interests] (https://studenthut.com/societies) from reading widely within your degree to joining different student societies and activities group this is important for personal development
• The university setting provides a stepping stone between being a teenager to being a young adult and living in halls and student houses develops many domestic skills in a slightly more sheltered setting
• Universities themselves have huge networks and a wealth of opportunities available and in order to get the full benefits of these you need to take these opportunities
• University courses develop critical thinking and analytical skills which are integral to life
• Degrees are prerequisites to many jobs/ future progressions
• On the other hand University may not be worth it as it fails to provide adequate mental health support at the same time putting students in very stressful situations due to work load and financial burden
• In conclusion, University is worth it for some people but other options such as apprenticeships would be more beneficial for others

If academia is not your career aim, it may not be worth getting yourself into a high amount of debt for a degree

• Apprenticeships and vocational courses are more suited to a long term career as they train you from scratch; graduate jobs require some form of work experience. Apprenticeships will also allow you to gain some money whilst learning on the job - whereas with university (at least in the UK) it will ultimately cost you more in the long run with the maintenance loan.

• Additionally, research conducted by Student Beanshas told us that 36% of students had a part time job and 21% had two part time jobs alongside studying. This can negatively impact grades, university experiences, which makes the experience not worthwhile when you could have been earning more money working your way up in an entry level job.

• A survey carried out in 2014 found that half of UK graduates do not end up using their degree.

• This means that either the job market is being more accommodating for those from different degree backgrounds or there is a lack of people readily available with the skill sets necessary for the role and as a result would need to hire people from outside of their traditional pool.

Unless a degree is required for a preferred career i.e. law, medicine etc… it’s probably best avoided, study skills and knowledge in a subject of interest can be gained by most individuals online rather than forking out £9000 per year just for ‘interest’ only.

Uni is unfortunately, slowly becoming more about accreditation rather than education- have to apply this on an individual basis to determine if this is truly worth it.

Having said that there are definitely benefits, not least of which is the friendships and connections made with peers.

Would I go through it again?
The general experience: yes
Financial hardship: no

TL;DR: A high quality liberal arts education can prepare you for almost anything. But it is an expensive luxury.

I have worked in technology for most of my 30-year career, but have an undergraduate degree with a double major in Philosophy and Economics. I jokingly say that I have either used my degree every day since I graduated or have never used it. Both are true.

Learning how to read and think critically about abstract ideas definitely made it easier for me to learn how to program. But I doubt that it helped all that much. The real benefit I've derived from my education is personal. My life is richer after having read and thought about the works of the best minds in history.

Was that worth both the opportunity costs and actual dollars I spent to get that degree? That's a bit like asking whether a BMW is worth the money. You certainly don't need a BMW to get from point A to point B, but it is a much more pleasant experience to drive one than a multitude of less expensive cars. Ditto a BA.

If you are fortunate enough to have the resources to make an undergrad degree affordable, do it! But don't pretend it is going to help you in your career.