60% of university degrees will leave you earning less than the UK average

Emma Finamore
29 Jul 2018

If you’ve decided to do a degree, you might want to take a look at this.

Placeholder — There is a staggering difference of £27,100 between the highest and lowest earning degrees.

New data has revealed the degree course that will earn graduates the highest and lowest salaries five years after graduating.

There is a staggering difference of £27,100 between the highest and lowest earning degrees.

The data, analysed by Propillo as part of its graduate affordability study, has revealed that those with degrees in medicine and dentistry can expect to earn an average salary of £47,300 five years after graduating - the highest salary of any degree.

On the opposite end of the salary spectrum, those with a degree in creative arts and design will earn the lowest salary after graduating, earning just £20,200 after five years.

The second highest earning degree is Economics, with a median salary of £37,900 five years after graduating.

With the average UK salary of £27,600, there are plenty of degrees that leave graduates earning well below the UK average, even five years after leaving university.

Out of 20 popular degrees analysed, a third (60%) of those result in salaries below the UK average.

The data also revealed that the UK has some of the lowest post-graduate earnings, with an average salary of £27,840 across all 20 degrees, compared to £28,575 in Europe and £28,085 overseas.

The top five lowest earning degrees after five years are:

Creative arts and design – £20,200

Agriculture and related – £20,500

Psychology – £22,600

Mass communication and documentation – £22,800

Education – £23,700

The top five highest earning degrees after five years are:

Medicine and dentistry – £47,300

Economics – £37,900

Veterinary science – £34,900

Mathematical sciences – £33,100

Engineering and technology – £32,600

The data also revealed that the UK has some of the lowest post-graduate earnings, with an average salary of £27,840 across all 20 degrees, compared to £28,575 in Europe and £28,085 overseas.

News