Universities with the highest graduate salaries
Find out if your uni has made the top 10 in the UK according to graduate salary.
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When choosing where to study, don't just look at the overall rankings of the top universities in the UK.
Of course, it's important to consider the course, location, facilities and prestige of the institution. But, eventually, you'll need to decide what you want to do afterwards. And that involves thinking about money.
Wondering which uni will give you a professional boost? Official statistics from the Department for Education show which universities fare best when it comes to graduate earnings five years after graduation.
Top 10 graduate earnings by university
Here are the best universities for graduate earnings:
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – £55,000
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London – £53,300
- St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London – £47,400
- University of Cambridge – £46,400
- University of Oxford – £46,000
- University College London (UCL) – £42,700
- King's College London – £42,300
- University of Bath – £41,600
- University of Bristol – £41,200
- University of Durham – £41,200
- University of Warwick – £40,900.
This is taken from the LEO Graduate outcomes provider level data, which gives the median average salary of graduates from each university five years after graduation. The latest data is from 2021/22 meaning these graduates would have graduated in 2016.
The figures above give a general idea of what graduates can earn five years after completing their course. But, remember that salaries can vary widely depending on what subject you studied.
LSE takes first place on this particular graduate salary list.
The list differs from the Complete University Guide (CUG) rankings (which list the top 10 unis in the UK). However, most of the universities have made it onto both lists.
Why do some graduates earn more than others?
Another interesting feature of the results is geography. This league table consists mainly of universities in the south of England. It may be because there are more jobs with higher salaries in London and the surrounding areas.
There are no universities from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland on this list.
Despite this, there are still loads of great graduate jobs for you to apply to in every corner of the UK. Don't let the rankings put you off!
Also, these numbers don't tell the full story. Many graduates will earn more or less than the figures above.
How to choose the right university for you
Choosing where to go to uni can feel stressful, and sometimes it's difficult to know where to start.
The best way to begin is to write a list of what's important to you when it comes to university. Everyone has different preferences.
There are loads of factors you could consider, including:
- Overall university ranking
- Ranking of your chosen course
- Modules on offer
- Facilities
- Location
- Surrounding area
- Societies
- Price
- Employment prospects.
If you can get to an open day, they're the best way to gauge whether or not you should apply. Sometimes places seem good on paper, but look and feel totally different once you're there.
Then, when graduation is looming, you have another choice to make: what to do next?
Graduate salaries will often come into the mix. But, it definitely isn't the only factor to consider when thinking about your career after uni.
Consider what you want to do on a day-to-day basis, what you enjoy, where your skills lie and what your values are. Are factors like employee benefits and location important to you?
This guide to graduate schemes might help you make a start. However, there are also many alternatives to graduate schemes.
You might even choose to see the world after finishing university. If so, don't feel as though you're harming your career prospects – travelling can get you a job too!
To increase your chances of landing the perfect graduate job, make sure you check out our guide to writing the perfect CV.
