Anybody else regretting and feeling bad about encouraging their kids to go to uni?

Not at all. Mine are both academic and thrived in their uni environments. They gained confidence and experience as well as qualifications.

I do agree that uni doesn’t suit everyone though.

There aren't any apprenticeships especially if you don't know what you want to do. Its hard getting any job right now so no alternative really.

No

they could not have got their jobs without a degree

no apprenticeships in their fields

Lower repayment threshold (25k) and 40 year rather than 30 year term. 25k is barely over minimum wage.

DS is doing a degree apprenticeship but if he hadn't he'd have been going to uni without a second thought OP. I'd say though encourage them to really make the most of those uni years. They need to be competitive when they come out - so work experience in a part time job, a summer placement or year out, leadership experience - perhaps from running a relevant society, voluntary work, relevant online courses and anything else that they can put on a CV.

The problem is New Labour and successive governments choosing to privatise higher education and turn it into a business model.

I really feel for young people saddled with debt when a few individuals profit from their misery.

It doesn’t have to be like this. Not in the 6th richest country in the world.

I do, yes. Between the strikes and Covid she didn't actually get an education and yet has all the debt.

try not to be hard on yourself. It was their choice to make.
If they got a job that requires a degree and gives them a fulfilling career they enjoy then the debt is worth it.
I feel for you if they ended up hating the subject and now are doing something they didn’t need the degree for. Which is it?
You don’t say, however you mention STEM. I am in the stem field and it is hard to progress without a PhD let alone a degree. Apprenticeships in stem do not get you that far - anyone who takes to it we encourage to get a degree. So they would probably end up with the debt anyway, just later on.

Same with mine.

One went to Uni and did very well leading to a solid career. (He did a subject that covers both arts and sciences).

The others made different choices and will probably both earn well in their chosen fields.

@Gh0ststory what scared you about the loans?

The reason I ask is that my son is in first year of A-Levels and now looking at Unis.

Has the loan repayments changed?

One of my DC went to university and the other didn’t. They’re both doing fine and made the choices for themselves.
For good or ill, the choice of whether to go to university is for the young adults attending, not their parents.
I don’t regret giving my DCs free choice and supporting both their decisions, they are adults and have enough intelligence and information to make an informed choice.
Student loan debt is just a kind of graduate cost, and the DC that has student debt is fine with paying it.

Depends entirely on what they want to do. Labour marker is competitive. If they are studying sociology or applied arts - well, probably pointless debt unless they're wanting to teach.