According to the results of an expert survey (n=34) of teachers of colleges and universities, the main problems of the educational success of modern students have been identified. Social, psychological, economic and pedagogical factors of learning success are analyzed. Significant contradictions and their impact on the success in the educational activities of modern students are considered. An undesirable consequence of the revealed contradictions is the desire to shift responsibility for the unresolved tasks exclusively to educational institutions. The key causes of problems in the development of the education system were identified, the prospects for the orientation of educational policy towards talented youth were assessed, and potential and realizable risks in education were considered. The general characteristics of a successful student are presented.