Financial difficulties among Norwegian students have become more common, with 31 percent saying they experienced high or very high levels of economic hardship in 2025, up from 26 percent three years earlier. New data from Statistics Norway (Statistisk sentralbyrå, SSB), based on the Eurostudent 9 survey, show that rising living costs are affecting students’ health, diets and academic performance.
Average monthly living costs measured by the survey increased from NOK 14,800 (€1,350) in 2022 to NOK 17,100 (€1,560) in 2025. That is an increase of more than 15 percent, while consumer prices rose by 13.5 percent over the same period.
The figures describe students’ own assessment of their financial situation. They are not a clinical measure of health conditions or an administrative definition of poverty.
Financial difficulties among Norwegian students have increased across groups
The deterioration is visible across age groups and different sources of income, although some students are considerably more exposed than others.
Among students whose main source of income is public student support, 38 percent reported serious financial difficulties in 2025. The proportion was lower, at around 25 percent, among those mainly supported by income from paid work.
The highest figure, 44 percent, was recorded among students relying primarily on financial support from a family member or partner. However, SSB cautioned that this group represents only 3 percent of students, making comparisons over time less certain.
Age also matters. Students aged 30 or older were the least likely to report serious economic difficulties, at 25 percent, compared with between 31 and 35 percent among younger age groups. Nevertheless, financial difficulties increased between 2022 and 2025 across all age categories.
Women experienced the largest increase. In 2022, male and female students reported financial problems at similar rates of around 26-27 percent. By 2025, the share among women had risen by six percentage points, a larger increase than among men.
Poor finances are affecting health, food and academic results
The consequences extend beyond students’ monthly budgets. Among those reporting serious financial difficulties, more than 60 percent said their mental health was affected, while 43 percent reported effects on their physical health.
Almost half said financial pressure meant their grades were worse than they could otherwise have been. The effect on study progression was less widespread: 18 percent said financial difficulties could cause them to finish their studies later than planned.
Food is another area where students are cutting back. Around half of financially struggling students said they had to limit the number or type of meals they ate, while about one in four said they were unable to pay all essential bills on time.
These problems frequently overlap. According to SSB, two out of three students experiencing serious financial difficulties reported at least two of the consequences measured by the survey.
Older students face different pressures
Although students aged 30 and above were less likely to report financial difficulties overall, those who did struggle were more likely to say that the consequences affected their studies.
Among financially struggling students aged 30 or older, 56 percent said their grades suffered, compared with 40 percent among students under 22. Some 27 percent of the older group expected their studies to take longer because of financial pressures, compared with 11 percent among the youngest students.
SSB notes that older students often have different living arrangements and responsibilities. They are more likely to study alongside employment and may also have children or other family commitments. Their living costs are consequently higher on average.
The pattern is also reflected in students’ sources of income. Among those facing financial difficulties and relying mainly on paid employment, 59 percent said their grades were affected and 26 percent said they expected delayed completion. The corresponding figures among students dependent primarily on public support were 39 and 10 percent.
Norway’s student support is rising, but costs remain higher
The findings come as Norway increases its public student support. For the 2026-27 academic year, the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) has raised the basic support available to full-time students to NOK 15,488 (€1,420) a month, or NOK 170,368 (€15,580) over eleven months.
Students living away from their parents can have up to 40 percent of this basic loan converted into a grant under certain conditions, including requirements related to income, assets and study completion.
The comparison is not direct, since students may combine public support with paid employment or other income. However, the NOK 17,100 average monthly living costs recorded by Eurostudent in 2025 already exceeded the current monthly basic support rate.
The survey therefore points to a broader question about the practical accessibility of higher education in Norway. Tuition and public support are only part of the cost of studying: housing, food and other everyday expenses can affect students’ ability to study, their academic results and their health at the same time.
