Most Israeli Youth Aspire to University Degrees, But Few Have Applied

A significant majority of young Israelis born in 2004 aspire to obtain a university degree, with 70.1% expecting to achieve one in their lifetime. However, as of the 2024/25 academic year, only 15.4% of this age group had actually applied to higher education institutions. Among those who applied, 74.6% were accepted and began their studies.

These findings come from the first survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) detailing the aspirations and higher education patterns of the 2004 birth cohort. This generation navigated their high school years during the COVID-19 pandemic and entered adulthood amidst ongoing conflict. While 88% completed 12 years of schooling, only 62.1% were eligible for a matriculation certificate (bagrut), with women (68.2%) significantly more likely than men (56.3%) to qualify.

Women also show a higher aspiration for higher education, with 75% expecting at least one degree compared to 65.4% of men. The primary motivation for pursuing higher education is the desire to work in an interesting field in the future, cited by 49.8% of respondents. Economic advancement was a reason for 30%, and a love for learning for 16.7%.

Among those not planning to pursue higher education, 53.3% cited a lack of interest in academic frameworks. About 20% are still deciding on future plans, and 11.9% prefer shorter vocational programs or certificate courses. The psychometric test and admission requirements were a reason for only 2.1% of this group.

The survey also highlights a growing trend of academics in the workforce. In August 2026, 20.5% of job seekers held academic professions, up from 14% four years prior, coinciding with a large number of software developers and system analysts seeking employment. This shift is particularly evident in STEM fields, where 34.4% of those with advanced math and science matriculation had applied to university, compared to 9.9% of their peers. High acceptance rates into medicine (95.2%), engineering (81.4%), and computer science (78.9%) were linked to this background.

Despite aspirations, actual choices sometimes differ. For instance, 21.3% of respondents preferred engineering and architecture, but only 15.2% of new undergraduates enrolled in these fields. Conversely, education saw a preference of 8.4% in the survey but 19.2% of new students. Computer science also showed a gap, with 6.9% preference versus 9% enrollment.

Family remains a key influence, with 35% of young people citing parents and relatives as their primary exposure to fields of interest. The internet and social media were cited by 22.8%, and friends by 21.6%. Tel Aviv University is expecting a record 16,657 undergraduate students in the 2026/27 academic year, with over 5,120 first-year students.