The London School of Economics is the top London university in terms of graduate earnings, beating Oxbridge | My news from London

Graduates from the London School of Economics and Political Science were earning more than their peers at other London universities five years after graduating, according to new figures. The data was accompanied by encouraging comments from a spokesman for money website Save the Student, who said today’s students were feeling increasingly confident about securing a job after college.

The data, published by the Department for Education, showed that first-degree graduates from the London School of Economics and Political Science reported an average annual salary of £55,500 in 2021-2022, five years after leaving their course . Conversely, the lowest-earning graduates were from the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama, earning an average salary of £20,800 five years after leaving their course.

Those who selected economics courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science saw the highest earnings, with an astonishing average of £73,700. In contrast, graduates who studied sociology, social policy or anthropology earned around £35,400 a year.

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These figures highlight that the university boasts the highest average salary compared to all other London institutions, which collectively had average earnings of £28,300.

Other universities that performed above the London average included the Royal Veterinary College, with an average salary of £38,000, and University College London, where graduates earned £42,700 a year. In contrast, Royal College of Music students earned an average salary of £22,500 five years after graduating.

Overall, positive progress was seen across the board, with most providers and subjects seeing graduate incomes rise at or above 2015-16 inflation rates. Graduates from almost three-quarters of all universities saw average earnings rise by at least 13% in 2021-22 compared to 2015-16 figures.

Tom Allingham, director of communications at Save the Student, said: “On the face of it, these data paint a promising picture for graduates. However, it’s worth noting that the data set only runs through the 2021-22 fiscal year and therefore doesn’t include much of the skyrocketing inflation rates seen in most of 2022 and 2023.

He noted that it is currently uncertain whether this year’s summer graduates will see their earnings keep up with inflation like those before them. “However, the future looks bright for many graduates, particularly those from STEM subjects, and may explain why, in our own research, the proportion of students confident of finding a job after leaving university has risen dramatically in the post-Covid, from 38% in 2021 to 58% in 2023,” he said.

In addition, the data showed that female graduates from the London School of Economics and Political Science had an average salary of £50,400 five years after graduation, compared to their male counterparts who earned £61,400, which indicates an 18% pay gap between women and men. The data from all London universities also indicated that the earnings of students with degrees in STEM subjects exceeded those who studied the performing arts and humanities.

Average salaries of graduates at London universities five years after graduation

1. London School of Economics – £55,500
2. University College London – £42,700
3. King’s College London – £42,300
4. Queen Mary University of London – £38,700
5. Royal Veterinary College – £38,000
6. City University – £37,800
7. Brunel University London – £34,300
8. Birkbeck College – £32,100
9. London Southbank University – £32,100
10. University of Greenwich – £31,000
11. University of Westminster – £29,900
12. Kingston University – £29,900
13. Roehampton University – £28,500
14. Goldsmiths College – £28,100
15. Middlesex University – £27,700
16. Ravensbourne – £27,700
17. London Metropolitan University – £27,400
18. University of the Arts London – £26,300
19. University of East London – £25,600
20. Rose Bruford College – £22,600
21. Royal College of Music – £22,500
22. Conservatoire of Dance and Drama – £20,800

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