Maturità 2026

Studenti presents the results of its survey on the 2026 State Finals: in the age of AI and deskilling, Generation Z continues to believe in education, but increasingly evaluates university and training in terms of transferable skills and return on investment.

This is what emerges from the survey conducted by Studenti, Mondadori Digital’s leading media brand in Italy in the digital education sector, with the support of the Sylla Research Institute. The survey involved the Studenti community and a sample of high school seniors (selected through a national online panel using the CAWI method) to analyse the expectations, concerns and outlook of Generation Z on the eve of the 2026 State Exam.

THE DEGREE IS NO LONGER A GUARANTEE: EDUCATION YES, BUT WITH A “RETURN ON INVESTMENT”

The findings reveal a profound cultural shift. Only 28.8% of students consider a university degree to be the most reliable path for building their professional future, while 60.3% believe that the value of university depends on the degree course chosen: some are still seen as a worthwhile investment, while others are perceived as offering limited value in the job market.

A minority are already looking at alternatives such as ITS programmes and vocational pathways (5.5%), immediate entry into the workforce (4.1%) or entrepreneurship (1.4%).

This does not reflect a lack of confidence in education. On the contrary, young people continue to recognise the value of learning, but expect it to deliver tangible results. In other words, a degree is no longer considered a value in itself, but rather a tool to be assessed on the basis of the return it can generate over time.

“The findings portray a generation that has internalised market logic long before actually encountering the market itself. This is not cynicism: it is an adaptive response to a context in which uncertainty is structural. The challenge for the education system is to provide not only technical skills, but also the ability to navigate change,” commented Alfonso Brunetti, Research Director at Sylla.

THE DESKILLING EFFECT: AI DOES NOT CAUSE CONCERN, BUT THE FEAR OF BECOMING OBSOLETE DOES

While artificial intelligence has become an integral part of students’ daily study routines — with 64% of respondents using AI to prepare for the State Finals — their main concern is the impact that emerging technologies could have on the long-term relevance of their skills. Young people are entering a labour market in which professions, roles and required knowledge are evolving at an increasingly rapid pace.

This is also confirmed by the voices of Studenti’s WhatsApp community: 8 out of 10 respondents say they are at least somewhat concerned about deskilling, namely the risk that automation and AI could make skills currently considered essential obsolete. Only 20% believe that technology will mainly create new opportunities for those who know how to make the best use of it.

Behind this concern lies a form of FOBO (Fear Of Becoming Obsolete): the fear that skills and educational pathways may lose value more quickly than in the past. For this reason, Generation Z is approaching education with growing pragmatism, favouring pathways that can guarantee continuous learning, adaptability and employability.

THE GEN Z PARADOX: EDUCATED BUT NOT READY FOR ADULT LIFE

The picture that emerges is also that of a generation that is aware, yet fragile when it comes to practical matters. Only 20% of students feel completely autonomous in managing the practical aspects of adult life, such as filling out documents, dealing with bureaucracy, managing contracts or preparing for a job interview.

By contrast, 80% admit they do not feel fully prepared: 48% describe themselves as only partially autonomous, 26.7% believe school has not adequately prepared them, and 5.3% still prefer to delegate these responsibilities entirely.

When asked which skill school has failed to teach but will be most useful in life, responses converge on highly practical areas: financial education and money management (around 30% of responses), bureaucracy and practical life skills (22%), entering the workforce (18%), psychological skills and emotional management (15%), and personal guidance and orientation (10%).

STUDENTI+, THE NEW PERSONAL PLATFORM TO PREPARE FOR STATE FINALS

To coincide with State Finals, Studenti is launching the new Studenti+ personal area to help young people organise their studies and revise in a simpler and more effective way, including in preparation for exams. Thanks to AI, users can upload notes and learning materials and transform them into interactive revision tools such as summaries, concept maps, flashcards, quizzes and Q&A content, bringing everything together in one place.

 

Studenti is Mondadori Digital’s leading media brand in Italy in the digital education category, with 3.1 million unique web and social users (Source: Comscore, April 2026). It is a reference point for younger generations both at school and beyond, thanks to a dynamic and constantly evolving editorial offering characterised by innovative language and content. this let Studenti reach 1.2 million followers on social media — including TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp — where students can access guides and tutorials to prepare for exams, receive support to navigate their educational and professional future, and find resources to make the most of their student experience in every respect, including personal wellbeing.

The Sylla Research Institute specialises in the design and delivery of market research studies. Its Scientific Director is Professor Furio Camillo.