Earning power: Oxbridge dominant over Russell Group rivals, new stats show
The average Oxford law graduate goes on to pocket around £20,000 a year more than their Durham and Warwick peers, according to new government-backed data.
The research, collated by the Department for Education, analysed the earning power of graduates from 148 institutions who have been out of their undergraduate studies for five years.
Focusing on law, the University of Oxford — a favourite among top City firm recruiters — produces the top earning graduates. According to the data, a grad who completed their law degree at the elite uni in 2008/09 will five years later be earning a median salary of £61,400. Law alumni of Cambridge secured second place with an average annual income of £54,700, £6,700 less than their Oxbridge rivals.
Further down the power list, the data shows London School of Economics law grads five years into their careers earn a median salary of £47,700, while their counterparts who studied at University College London are taking home on average £47,200 a year. Elsewhere, the stats — released yesterday — reveal that law grads who completed their studies at Russell Group duo Warwick (£41,600) and Durham (£40,400) are earning around £20,000 less than their Oxford-educated equals. Other Russell Group law graduates, from for example Bristol and King’s, can expect to earn in the thirty thousands.
At the very bottom end of the table are the law graduates of Bradford University, with a median income of just £17,300. Sitting just above them are Bedfordshire (£17,800) and Bolton (£18,300) law degree holders.
Away from law, the accolade for top earning degree course goes to students who punted for Economics and Management at Oxford University. The data reveals these graduates enjoy a five year post-grad earning average of £71,700.
Top 20 law schools by graduate earnings
| University | Median salary five years post-graduation (£) |
| University of Oxford | 61,400 |
| University of Cambridge | 54,700 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | 47,700 |
| University College London | 47,200 |
| University of Warwick | 41,600 |
| University of Durham | 40,400 |
| University of Nottingham | 37,900 |
| University of Bristol | 37,700 |
| King’s College London | 37,200 |
| University of Manchester | 35,500 |
| University of Exeter | 34,300 |
| University of Sussex | 33,800 |
| University of Southampton | 33,100 |
| Queen Mary University of London | 31,400 |
| University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne | =30,700 |
| University of Surrey | =30,700 |
| University of Birmingham | 30,300 |
| Open University in England | 30,200 |
| Birkbeck College | =30,100 |
| University of East Anglia | =30,100 |
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