University degrees vary significantly in lifetime earnings potential, with medicine leading the pack. Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the average graduate earns around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduates, even after taxes and student loan repayments. However, the financial return depends heavily on the subject studied.
Medicine and Economics Top the List
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), graduates in medicine can earn up to £400,000 more over their lifetime compared to non-graduates. Economics follows closely, with a lifetime return of £394,000. Other high-earning courses include medical sciences (£182,000), law (£177,000), and business (£174,000).
Courses with Negative Returns
The research reveals that some subjects offer little to negative financial return relative to non-graduate earnings. Creative arts yields a negative return of -£40,000, performing arts -£43,000, philosophy -£9,000, and languages -£6,000. English graduates see only £9,000 additional lifetime earnings.
Minister Urges Careful Course Selection
Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith emphasised the importance of choosing a degree wisely. "Going to university and getting a degree is one of the most transformational things a young person can do. But it is not a universal guarantee of success, and not all degrees are equal," she said. "As well as the variation by subject, too many franchised and poor-quality courses do not offer a good deal to young people, selling the dream then leaving students in the lurch."
Full List of Lifetime Returns by Course
Below are the courses and their estimated lifetime earnings compared to non-graduates:
- Medicine: £408,000
- Economics: £394,000
- Medical sciences: £182,000
- Law: £177,000
- Business: £174,000
- Nursing: £142,000
- Maths: £133,000
- Computing: £128,000
- Pharmacology: £126,000
- Engineering: £103,000
- Politics: £87,000
- Allied health: £77,000
- Architecture: £74,000
- Chemistry: £67,000
- Social care: £62,000
- Education: £61,000
- History: £56,000
- Physics: £56,000
- Technology: £51,000
- Sociology: £47,000
- Psychology: £39,000
- General sciences: £36,000
- Biosciences: £32,000
- Media: £29,000
- Geography: £26,000
- Agriculture: £24,000
- English: £9,000
- Languages: -£6,000
- Philosophy: -£9,000
- Creative arts: -£40,000
- Performing arts: -£43,000
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