For Gen Z, going to college isn't as important anymore For six out of ten students, a college degree is only worth it if it guarantees a job
There has always been a certainty for young people: study, graduate, and the future is guaranteed. But are we sure this idea still holds up? For Gen Z it is no longer automatic. Not because they no longer believe in studying - on the contrary, they continue to recognize its value - but because they have learned to look at it differently: no longer a dogma to accept, but an investment to weigh.
And so the questions arise: does what you learn at university really mean something? Or does knowledge remain on paper, a promise that struggles to become a real job - and if it does, how long does it take? In a world where insecurity is the norm, the generation that more than any other feels the weight of time passing needs certainties.
@alice.lanciarini vorrei solo avere le idee chiare
son original -
Studenti and the Sylla research institute have just released the results of a survey on the Maturity 2026, a report which, reflecting the point of view of Italian high school seniors, tells the story of a generation that, despite continuing to recognize the value of education, no longer takes it for granted. The numbers are clear: only 28.8% of the young people interviewed by Studenti still consider a degree the most solid path to building a future, while 60.3% approach it with caution.
It depends on the degree program, they say: some are worth the investment, while others risk becoming less marketable in the job market. Then there are those already looking elsewhere: 5.5% toward ITS and professional training paths, 4.1% directly into work, and 1.4% toward becoming self-employed.
@2jaack i have really scary thoughts about ai #nz #mlm #wlw #foryoupage #clairo And then there is the issue of artificial intelligence. 64% of the students surveyed have used it to prepare for their final exams, but the technology also worries them: eight out of ten admit they fear at least to some extent deskilling, meaning the risk that machines will make skills obsolete that currently seem essential. Only 20% see it mainly as an opportunity for those who learn to use it to their advantage.
Behind this fear lies a specific feeling, FOBO, Fear Of Becoming Obsolete. It is the fear that the chosen path may lose value even before it is fully taken to the end. From this comes a more cautious, more practical way of thinking: better to focus on what remains solid over time, on what allows you not to fall behind - paths capable of ensuring continuous updating, adaptability, and continuity.
yeah maybe getting your own flat and handling food and expenses is adulting. but managing your complicated emotions, making it through uncomfortable situations without bailing, showing up to work every day despite your heart feeling heavy - that is also adulting.
— yimika| (@yimikaaaa) June 18, 2026
The Studenti report also shows that younger generations feel disoriented when facing everyday challenges in adult life. Only 20% of the students interviewed say they know how to handle filling out a form, understanding a contract, or facing a job interview. Everyone else struggles: 80% do not feel fully ready, 48% feel only halfway prepared, 26.7% think school did not prepare them enough, and 5.3% would still prefer someone else to deal with these things for them.
When asked what they would have liked school to teach them, the graduating students listed: how to manage money (about 30%), how to navigate paperwork and practical life (22%), how to enter the job market (18%), how to recognize and manage their emotions (15%), and how to understand what they truly want (10%). All essential skills that no school curriculum has yet managed to convey.