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The £9k a year figure is mostly smoke and mirrors though. All British citizens are eligible for a tuition "loan" that covers it. That "loan" (and the maintenance loan too) is the equivalent of a graduate tax, as it's a percentage (9% for the current lot of students) charged on income made past a certain amount (above £25,000 for this lot). The loan is wiped 30 years after graduation (this what will happen for the majority of students).

I get that its sold as a "loan"

but its not. Its a ~9% tax that only kicks in after ~25k and disappears at 55(or thereabouts)

the American system are actual loans at commercial rates and terms[1]. apart from you can't bankrupt your self out of them.

[1]well its more complex.

Too late cannot edit. Where I put GDP, please read GBP.