University graduates report high satisfaction despite subject regret

Recent data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveals that the majority of 2024 graduates remain satisfied with their decision to attend university. Despite concerns regarding student debt and the graduate job market, over 80% of surveyed graduates stated they would still choose university over other options.

While satisfaction with chosen institutions remains high and has seen a slight increase, graduates expressed more hesitation regarding their specific fields of study. Only 70% of respondents indicated they would stick with their original subject choice, suggesting that subject regret is more common than regret regarding the institution or the decision to pursue higher education.

The University of Bath reported the highest level of graduate satisfaction with their chosen institution, surpassing Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. The top five institutions recorded satisfaction rates clustered around 90%, with Bath leading by a margin of 0.8 percentage points over Oxford.