That figure had jumped by a third in just 6 months, as interest compounds on balances that many may never fully repay.
Even cautious graduates with the smallest loans are now facing a perfect storm: living costs and compounding interest are outpacing wages, leaving many to navigate years of financial strain, delayed milestones, and growing doubt about whether their degree was worth it.
This isn’t just a British problem. In the U.S., student debt has topped $1.7 trillion, while fresh graduates struggle to land stable jobs.
To make matters worse, not only are there fewer job opportunities available for fresh faced graduates, but CEOs are also increasingly saying they don’t even care about the expensive piece of paper they signed up for.
Some 14% admit they had to delay moving out of their parents’ house and starting a family because of hefty student loads. Meanwhile, a third are having to delay saving for their first home and even retirement.
