University graduates earn more than non-graduates

University graduates earned £10,000 more on average than non-graduates last year, according to official figures.

But the median salary was £9,000 higher for male graduates than females with degrees, the government data shows.

Universities Minister Sam Gyimah referred to the statistics at yesterday’s education select committee, where he was questioned by ministers about social injustice within higher education. “The latest data shows the graduate premium is still strong and still holds,” he said, arguing that degrees provide value for money.

The findings from the department for education’s (DfE’s) annual graduate labour market statistics show both working age (16 to 64) graduates and postgraduates had higher employment rates than those without degrees in 2017.

Although graduates and postgraduates had similar rates of employment (around 87.5% and 87.7%, respectively), compared with around 71.1% for non-graduates, postgraduates were more likely to be in high-skilled jobs.

In 2017, 77.8% of post-graduates and 65.5% of graduates were in high-skilled employment, compared with 22.2% of non-graduates, according to the figures.

The average workingage graduate earned £10,000 more than the average non-graduate, while on average postgraduates earned £6,000 more than graduates.