Published: 19/10/2026
Written and produced by: Ivy Hillhouse, Lucy Lewington & Sarah Isbester
Rising rent and grocery prices are forcing Australian university students to make difficult financial decisions, with students revealing how financial stress is impacting their studies.
Sunshine Coast University Bachelor of Nursing student Lillie Cowden says that working extra hours to afford rent and other living expenses has impacted her academic performance.
“Having to work a lot to pay rent and those sorts of things… compromises my study and how much effort I put into that,” said Miss Cowden.
Research identifies that the cost of being a student has increased dramatically with 70 per cent of students being forced to make changes to their working hours to meet cost-of-living pressures.
“There definitely needs to be an increase in wages. Things should be more affordable, especially in terms of grocery shopping as well as the rental market,” said Miss Cowden.
Since the Job-ready Graduates Package was announced in 2021, the cost of being a student has increased significantly, with students paying 20 per cent more in rent and 27 per cent more for groceries.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy has also raised concerns about students facing higher living and education costs.
In a media release, Mr Sheehy explained that rising expenses are forcing students to make difficult financial decisions while their education costs continue to increase.
“They are paying more to live and more to study, yet they’re still unable to keep pace with the rising cost of living,” said Mr Sheehy.
As living costs continue to rise, students are facing growing pressure to balance financial security with their education, highlighting the greater need for financial support.
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