The article deals with the value priorities of Russian students. This group does not have sustainable socioeconomic characteristics and therefore requires continuous scientific monitoring. The authors analyse current social problems and their changes caused by the transformations of the last period. They discuss the results of diagnosing the personal values and behavioural practices of young students in the current context. Young people have always been the most dynamic, energetic and critically minded part of society, with the fastest-growing professional and career paths. Youth feels and experiences change more deeply than others, and is a kind of change indicator, builds capacity and is a major driving force for society's progress. Many countries, including Russia, face a sharp increase in the social problems of young people. The nature and direction of current transformations are increasingly determining the worldview of young people and its most educated part -the student class. Student youth inherit the achieved level of development of society, are the main participant in social mobility and economic initiative, and determine the essence of social reproduction in all spheres. But not all young people find their place in the market system, there is a decline in their social status, access to education and cultural values, an increase in crime, deviant behaviour, unemployment and social inequality. Creating the conditions for the country's progress contributes fully realization of the potential of students, the use of professional, moral, legal, general humanistic attitudes for the creation and social cohesion.