Research and analysis

Financial benefits of good university grades

Analysis of the impact of different degree classifications on the earnings returns of graduates.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 20 April 2022

Applies to England

Documents

How much does it pay to get good grades at university?

Ref: ISBN 978-1-83870-352-3

PDF, 831 KB, 49 pages

Details

This research looks at:

• how the distribution of degree classifications awarded changed between 1999 and 2015
• the estimated benefit to an individual’s earnings at age 30 when they receive a first class degree over an upper second class
• the penalty for receiving a lower second class or third class degree

This is broken down by subject and into provider groupings, based on average selectivity.

Related reports

• The impact of undergraduate degrees on lifetime earnings
• The impact of undergraduate degrees on early-career earnings
• The relative labour market returns to different degrees
• London calling? HE, geographical mobility and early-career earnings
• The impact of living costs on the returns to higher education
• The earnings returns to postgraduate degrees in the UK
• The returns to undergraduate degrees by socio-economic group and ethnicity
• Which university degrees are best for intergenerational mobility?

Published 20 April 2022