Graduate outcomes

Graduates from poorer backgrounds have lower incomes than their wealthier peers, even if they have the same degree results. Today’s education inequalities are tomorrow’s income inequalities. 35% of university graduates moved into the top fifth of earners at age 30, compared to 12% of those without higher education. The chances of becoming a top earner are influenced by both social background and university attendance. Students from more advantaged backgrounds are more likely to become high earners, even compared to others at similar universities. Overall, across all universities, 46% of graduates from private schools reached the top fifth of earners, compared to 22% of graduates who had been eligible for free school meals. However, the type of university attended also has a big impact on earnings potential. Socio-economic gaps are reduced among students who go to more selective universities. But students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to go to those universities in the first place, and there is a negative correlation between access rates and success rates; universities with the lowest access rates have the highest levels of labour market success, and vice versa. And even at Russell Group universities (leaving aside Oxbridge), socio-economic background has a huge impact on earnings potential (with 38% of free school meals students becoming top earners, compared to 53% of private school students).