University students have plenty on their minds as they return to their studies. What’s the right degree course? Will they need to take out more student loans to cover the costs? What will the job market look like when they graduate?
To explore university students’ perspectives on the upcoming academic year, Forbes Advisor conducted a survey of 1,000 students in July 2024.
The results reveal the many concerns students are facing as they head back to campus.
Seventy-eight percent of students prefer in-person or hybrid classes over fully online courses.
When asked about their classes for the autumn term, a plurality of students reported taking only in-person classes, while more than a third plan to enrol in both online and in-person courses.
Although 78% of students are attending at least some on-campus classes, 56% are also taking some online classes.
More than half of the students surveyed by Forbes Advisor said they plan to use scholarships, grants, or financial aid to fund their university education.
Nearly three in ten students intend to take out student loans to cover costs, according to the survey.
The survey found that students expect to spend an average of $209.50 on textbooks and supplies this term, with 23% planning to spend $300 or more.
When it comes to mental health, male students are generally more satisfied with the mental health support offered by their university compared to their female counterparts.
Eighty-two percent of males surveyed were either very or somewhat satisfied with how their university supported their mental health, compared to 69% of female respondents.
Interestingly, 42% of students are concerned about their health and safety on campus, with 15% reporting they are “very” concerned.
Declaring a major is an important milestone for university students, and once they choose a major, they tend to stick with it. However, the results revealed that 36% have changed their major since starting university.
The top reason students selected their major was due to personal passion or interest (43%).
In second place was the belief that it would help their career prospects (17%), followed closely by the expectation of a high salary and financial stability (13%).
Job anxiety is a significant issue—according to the survey, 80% of students are concerned about securing employment after graduation, with only 20% saying they aren’t worried at all.
The top concerns include a lack of work experience (24%), limited job opportunities in their field (22%), competition with other graduates (22%), and uncertainty about the job market (19%).
