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

The survey found that 29% of Israeli students are considering leaving Israel after graduation. This is a major measure of how students view their future. It connects higher education with wider economic and social pressures. The survey was released before the 2026 academic year began, amid a difficult economic and security situation.

The figure sits alongside other signs of strain. Average monthly student expenses reached NIS 6,907. Nearly half of students receive money from their parents, and one in five has taken out a loan during their studies. Two-thirds cannot save regularly each month, while 38% believe they will never be able to buy a home.

The survey does not identify one single reason for the desire to leave. However, its findings show students facing high living costs, debt, housing concerns, and uncertainty about employment. It also found that 38% think their institutions are not preparing them well for artificial intelligence and labor-market changes.

Living costs for students in Israel average NIS 6,907 per month, an increase of NIS 28 from the previous year. The figure shows why many students need work, family assistance, or loans while studying. Costs also differ by location, with the Central District averaging NIS 7,258 monthly, compared with NIS 6,392 in Haifa.

Housing and household maintenance are the largest expense, at NIS 3,155 per month. Groceries for home consumption cost NIS 1,463. Entertainment averages NIS 751, while transportation costs NIS 724. Together, these categories show that basic living needs account for much of a student's monthly budget.

The pressure affects students' choices. Twenty-two percent compromised on accommodation quality because of costs or rent, and 14% moved back to their parents' homes. Half live in rented apartments or sublets, while 31% live with parents. These conditions limit financial independence during higher education.

Many students combine work, family support, and borrowing because studying is expensive. Average monthly expenses are NIS 6,907. Yet 81% work while studying, and their reported average gross earnings are NIS 6,235 per month. Nearly half receive help from parents, suggesting that work alone does not remove the financial strain.

Students work an average of 97 hours each month. Only 49% work in fields connected to their academic programs, so employment may support daily life without building relevant experience. Parental assistance averages NIS 2,252 monthly. One in five students has taken a loan, and 61% of borrowers owe more than NIS 20,000.

The pressure limits students' ability to plan ahead. Sixty-seven percent cannot save regularly, and 33% considered dropping out in the past year. Among those considering departure, half named financial problems as a main reason. Work, family money, and debt therefore help students continue, but also show how difficult study has become.

Student dropout is leaving higher education before finishing one's studies. The survey found that 33% of students had considered dropping out during the previous year. This matters because considering departure signals that students may be struggling to remain enrolled, even when they have not actually left.

Among students who considered dropping out, 50% cited financial difficulties as a primary reason. Another 41% pointed to trouble coping with their academic workload, while 22% reported mental-health difficulties. These pressures can overlap. A student may work long hours to cover costs while also trying to meet demanding academic requirements.

The findings show that dropout risk is not tied to one problem. Average expenses reached NIS 6,907, 81% of students worked, and 67% could not save regularly. The survey does not report how many ultimately left. It does show that financial support, manageable workloads, and attention to mental health are central concerns for keeping students enrolled.

Reserve military service interrupts students' studies and affects their return to campus. Twenty-seven percent of respondents were called up during the academic year, while another 16% were partners of reservists. Among students who served, 64% said returning was emotionally and socially challenging to a great or very great extent.

The academic impact is also clear. Only 43% of student reservists said accommodations such as deadline extensions, attendance exemptions, and special exam dates helped them catch up to a great or very great extent. Another 26% said these measures helped only a little or not at all. Nearly half felt distance, alienation, or a lack of understanding from non-reserve students.

Reserve service also adds financial and emotional pressure. Sixty-eight percent reported strong frustration, burnout, or anger over unequal service obligations. Another 38% said this inequality weakened their motivation to report for future reserve duty. The findings show that returning to class is not simply a scheduling problem.

Students are worried because work is changing while many do not feel their institutions are keeping pace. In the survey, 38% said their academic institutions were not adequately preparing them for the age of artificial intelligence and changes in the labor market. This makes education feel less certain as a route into future employment.

The concern appears alongside a weak connection between study and current work. Although 81% of students work while studying, only 49% are employed in fields related to their academic programs. Students also face high expenses, averaging NIS 6,907 monthly, which increases the importance of education leading to useful opportunities.

The survey does not specify which courses or skills students want institutions to add. It does show a broad readiness gap in students' perceptions. As artificial intelligence and labor-market changes continue to shape the future described in the survey, institutions face pressure to make academic preparation feel more relevant and practical.

The survey links student finances with the ability to build an independent life. Average monthly expenses are NIS 6,907, led by housing and household maintenance at NIS 3,155. Although 81% work, nearly half also receive help from parents. These figures show how wages and living costs shape whether students can support themselves during study.

Family support can fill some of the gap, averaging NIS 2,252 per month. Debt is another tool: one in five students has taken a loan, and the average loan is NIS 49,849. Yet 67% cannot save regularly. Housing pressure is visible in the 22% who compromised on accommodation and the 14% who moved back with parents.

The survey presents education as part of this wider financial balance. Thirty-three percent considered dropping out, and 38% believe they will never buy a home, although that improved from 42%. The findings suggest that costs, income, support, and debt are shaping independence while students are still studying.