Nearly one in three Israeli students considers leaving country as living costs soar - poll

The average Israeli student's monthly expenses have reached NIS 6,907, nearly half rely on financial assistance from their parents, and 29% are considering leaving Israel after graduation, according to the National Union of Israeli Students' 2026 survey, released ahead of the academic year's opening on Sunday.

The survey reveals the financial and emotional toll of higher education in Israel.

Alongside the financial difficulties, the survey highlights the impact of the war on students who served in the reserves, with 64% reporting emotional and social difficulties upon returning to their studies. Meanwhile, 38% of all students believe their academic institutions are not adequately preparing them for the age of artificial intelligence and changes in the labor market.

The findings were published ahead of the opening of the new academic year on Sunday, October 18, amid a complex economic and security situation.

Working, relying on parents, and still struggling to make ends meet

According to the survey, 81% of students work while pursuing their studies, compared with 79% in 2024. Working students are employed for an average of 97 hours a month and earn approximately NIS 6,235 gross. Despite juggling work and studies, only 49% are employed in fields related to their academic programs.

The average monthly expenses of a student in Israel stand at NIS 6,907, up NIS 28 from the previous year.

Housing and household maintenance constitute the largest expense, averaging NIS 3,155 a month. This is followed by groceries for home consumption at NIS 1,463, entertainment at NIS 751, and transportation at NIS 724.

Regional disparities are also evident. The Central District recorded the highest average monthly expenses at NIS 7,258, compared with NIS 6,392 in the Haifa District.

Nearly half of students (49%) receive financial assistance from their parents, up from 46% the previous year. The average monthly assistance is NIS 2,252, up NIS 100 from the previous year.

In addition to family assistance, one in five students has taken out a loan during their studies. Among borrowers, 61% took out loans exceeding NIS 20,000.

The average loan amount reached NIS 49,849, up NIS 1,716 from the previous year. Half of borrowers said the loan helped them to a great or very great extent to complete the academic year.

Financial difficulties are also affecting students' ability to plan for the future. Some 67% cannot save money regularly each month, while 38% believe they will never be able to buy a home.

Nevertheless, this represents an improvement over the previous year, when 42% believed they would be unable to buy a home.

The housing situation is also affecting living conditions. Some 22% of students reported having to compromise on the quality of their accommodation because of the cost of living or rental prices, while 14% moved back into their parents' homes.

Half of respondents live in rented apartments or sublets, while 31% live with their parents.

One of the survey's most notable findings concerns the risk of students dropping out of higher education.

Some 33% said they had considered dropping out in the past year, as Walla first reported. Among those who considered leaving their studies, 50% cited financial difficulties as a primary reason, 41% pointed to difficulties coping with their academic workload, and 22% reported mental health difficulties.

Reservists return to campus but struggle to resume normal life

The war continues to affect students' academic lives. Some 27% of respondents reported being called up for reserve duty during the academic year, compared with 23% in the previous survey. Another 16% said they were spouses or partners of reservists.

Among students who served in the reserves, 64% reported that returning to their studies was emotionally and socially challenging to a great or very great extent.

Nearly half (47%) felt a sense of distance, alienation, or lack of understanding from students who did not serve in the reserves.

The difficulties extend beyond emotional and social challenges.

Only 43% of student reservists said the academic accommodations they received, including extended assignment deadlines, attendance exemptions, and special examination dates, helped them catch up on missed coursework to a great or very great extent.

Another 26% said the accommodations helped them only to a small extent or not at all.

Student reservists have also faced financial difficulties related to their reserve service, including disputes over eligibility for municipal tax discounts.

The issue of equality in military service also weighs heavily on reservists.

Some 68% reported significant feelings of frustration, burnout, or anger over the unequal distribution of military and reserve service obligations.

Another 38% said this inequality significantly or very significantly undermines their motivation and willingness to report for reserve duty in the future.

Half of student reservists said financial compensation was a significant consideration or positive incentive in their decision to report for duty or extend their service, beyond their sense of mission.

Some 22% said they had to postpone one or more courses until the summer semester or the following academic year, while 58% completed the year as planned.

Concerns over artificial intelligence and future employment

Alongside financial and emotional difficulties, students are expressing concerns about entering the workforce.

More than 40% of respondents are considerably concerned about finding their place in the job market after completing their degrees.

Some 38% believe their academic institutions are not adequately preparing them for the age of artificial intelligence and technological changes in the labor market.

The findings come as efforts to introduce artificial intelligence into Israel's education system continue, including cooperation between the Education Ministry and technology companies.

Despite these concerns, students' salary expectations keep rising.

The average monthly salary students expect to earn about two years after graduation is NIS 16,657, up NIS 631 from the previous year.

The nature of academic studies is also changing.

Some 49% of students attach great or very great importance to maintaining in-person learning and a physical presence on campus, although most do not wish to attend classes in person every day.

Some 27% prefer coming to campus two days a week, 23% prefer one day, and another 23% prefer three days.

Only 3% want to attend campus five days a week.

Nearly three in 10 students consider leaving Israel as trust in government declines

The economic and security situation is also influencing how students view their future in Israel.

Some 29% of respondents said they would consider moving to another country after completing their studies, compared with 26% the previous year.

Another 56% said they were not considering leaving, while 15% remained undecided.

Among students considering emigration, 79% cited the cost of living as one of the main reasons, 46% pointed to the security situation, 20% cited their employment prospects, and 20% identified the political and diplomatic crisis.

Trust in the government has also declined.

Some 63% of students believe the current government does not look after their interests at all or does so only to a limited extent, compared with 57% the previous year.

Meanwhile, the proportion of students who are highly or very highly optimistic about Israel's future has fallen from 37% to 31%.

When asked which issues would most influence their votes in the next Knesset elections, 67% selected the cost of living and the economy, 37% chose internal security and personal safety, and 35% identified foreign and defense policy.

Another 27% cited education and social policy, while only 15% selected the identity of the prime minister as one of the two issues most important to them.

Students with disabilities and student parents face additional challenges

The survey also examined the circumstances of students with disabilities.

Among respondents in this group, 62% said their academic institutions were physically accessible to a great or very great extent, while 12% reported limited or no accessibility.

Nevertheless, concerns about life after graduation remain significant.

Some 47% of students with disabilities are highly or very highly concerned that their disability will constitute a significant obstacle to entering the workforce.

Another 26% expressed moderate concern, while only 27% reported little or no concern.

Students who became parents during their studies also face difficulties.

Only 39% said the support they received from their academic institutions after the birth of their child was adequate to a great or very great extent.

Another 30% felt the support was limited or entirely inadequate.

The National Union of Israeli Students' 2026 survey was conducted among approximately 12,000 respondents ahead of the new academic year, which began on Sunday, October 18. Conducted for the 17th year in its current format, the survey examined students' financial circumstances, integration into the labor market, satisfaction with their academic institutions, and the impact of the war on their lives.