The article offers an analysis of the social well-being of Kazakhstani student youth during the pandemic. Based on materials of research in Kazakhstan in 2019-2021 it has been found that the level of student satisfaction depends on the degree of social optimism/pessimism and well-being of society showing signs of instability. Over the past three years, high levels of social well-being are correlated with students who are confident about their future. The study also revealed a low assessment of social well-being by students experiencing material and psychological difficulties, as well as lacking social integration. Low assessment is also associated with fear of more long-lasting impact of the crisis. Particular attention in this study is paid to the issues of changing the social well-being of students and assessing the nature of social expectations, the possibility of certain problems in the near future, fears and confidence/uncertainty in the future and rethinking the social goals of young people before and after the COVID-19 pandemics.