AN AimHigher roadshow visited schools in Halton to encourage pupils to think about going on to sixth form college and university.
In Halton, 16 per cent of 18-year-olds go on to higher education compared to 22 per cent nationally.
Experts say young people are put off by the wrong idea about university life.
The roadshow visited Halton High, St Chad's High School, The Heath School and Bankfield School to tell pupils about the opportunities open to them.
Sarah Downes, a teacher at St Chad's in Runcorn, said: "I think we will have a very high percentage of Year 9s expressing an interest now.
"It showed what you can go on to achieve in life with a university education."
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