University Admissions Fall by 13–20% in 2025

University Admissions Drop Sharply in 2025: High Fees, Lack of Skills, and No Job Prospects to Blame

By The Veterinary News & Views
Lahore | August 3, 2025

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A recent on-ground survey and national enrolment data confirm that university admissions in Pakistan have dropped by 13 to 20% in 2025, marking a deeply concerning decline in the nation’s higher education trajectory.

A Generation Held Back

Captured outside Lahore’s historic university gates, the image of a worried student surrounded by bold placards reading “High Fees”, “Lack of Skills”, and “No Job” has gone viral — not just for its visual strength but because it represents a national truth.

“This is the reality for millions of Pakistani students today,” says Dr. Muhammad Atif Naseem, Executive Editor of The Veterinary News & Views. “A student’s journey is being blocked at every stage: unaffordable tuition, outdated education, and no guaranteed future.”

📉 What the Data Shows

Fiscal Year	Admissions	Trend	Inflation Context
2021–22	~1.96 million	Stable	Rising inflation globally
2022–23	~2.23 million	Slight growth	Reforms initiated
2023	~1.94 million	13% drop	CPI peaked (~20%)
2024	~1.95 million (proj.)	+0.8% recovery	Stabilization trend
2025	13–20% drop	Severe decline	Low inflation, but economic burden

🧱 Root Causes

High Tuition Fees: Even public universities are unaffordable for many families.
Lack of Skills: Mismatch between curriculum and market needs.
No Job Prospects: Graduates struggle to find work post-degree.

Expert Insight

“We are witnessing a collapse of aspiration. Youth are the future of Pakistan, and if they’re locked out of education now, we’ll be paying the price for decades.” – Dr. Shahid Rasool, Higher Education Strategist