We need to talk about money: Are universities actually worth it?

This week, two significant and interesting reports hit the world of higher education.

The first is Are universities worth it? A review of the evidence and policy options by David Willetts. The second is the 2025 Student Money and Wellbeing Report by Blackbullion.

One is an intelligent, articulate and well-researched piece, which provides a compelling analysis of the current state of higher education. It concludes that all is fine; media and political hype around the problems with degrees and university funding have got it all wrong, and university and the way it is currently funded is undeniably a good thing.

The other is a report that is barely more sophisticated than a master's dissertation, but manages to press exactly the right buttons, needling its way into finding precisely the financial problems that students face in their daily lives, and how it impacts their studies.