If you study these degree subjects at uni, you’ll earn the least money once you graduate

Erm, isn’t the whole point of uni that you can get a better job afterwards? You’d certainly hope so. But data shows grad salaries for people who studied lots of subjects at uni are actually pretty disappointing. Grad salaries have actually gone down in real terms since 2020. Yikes.

According to Forbes, the average annual salary for 21-year-olds is £24,440. But grads with degrees in several UK uni subjects were actually earning less money than this in 2024 – communications, creative and performing arts, design, journalism, media… and surprisingly, law. It turns out having a degree in law isn’t as lucrative as we all thought. You’ll need to latch onto a fancy grad scheme if you want to start earning the big bucks.

At the other end of the scale, the grads who earn the most money are the ones who studied dentistry, medicine and veterinary sciences. It’s not exactly a shock that STEM subjects will make you more money than arts and humanities subjects. The six most lucrative UK uni degree subjects are all STEM ones.

This data comes from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The numbers are the weighted medium salaries of UK students who graduated in 2022, and were in full-time employment in 2024. Disturbingly, only 57 per cent of 2022 grads were in full-time employment two years later, and the percentage varies massively by degree subject. So it’s likely that lots of the grads who aren’t in full-time employment are actually raking in far less than the numbers on the list.

So, here are all the UK uni degree subjects ranked by how tragically little money grads earn, ranked from most to least.

22. Medicine and dentistry – £34,950

21. Veterinary sciences – £32,750

20. Engineering and technology – £30,998

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19. Mathematical sciences – £30,450

18. Computing – £29,993

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17. Physical sciences – £28,781

=15. Education and teaching – £28,000

=15. Social sciences – £28,000

14. Subjects allied to medicine – £27,998

13. Combined and general studies – £27,974

12. Geography – £27,422

11. Business and management – £26,996

10. Architecture, building and planning – £26,994

9. Earth and environment studies – £26,900

8. Historical, philosophical and religious studies – £25,968

At least humanities girlies can flounce around museums with style x

7. Language and area studies – £25,439

6. Biological and sport sciences – £24,998

5. Agriculture, food and related studies – £24,980

4. Psychology – £24,906

3. Design, and creative and performing arts – £24,000

2. Law – £23,981

1. Media, journalism and communications – £23,975

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