yCalculator

University ROI Calculator

Last updated: April 2026

University ROI inputs

Financial ROI over 30 years

1410.6%

Net advantage: £705,303

Earnings crossover

Age 30

Year 12 after leaving school.

After 30 years

Graduate earnings£1,751,962
Non-graduate£1,046,659
Net advantage£705,303

Cumulative earnings chart

Graduate Non-graduate

Subject ROI ranking

Subject30yr premiumBreak-even age
Medicine£755,05130
Computer Science£705,30330
Engineering£556,05632
Law£456,55833
Education£456,55833
Business£307,31137
Social Sciences£207,81340
Arts/Humanities£157,97541

Honest caveats

Financial ROI is only one factor. University can provide personal development, independence, career flexibility, networking, access to certain professions, and non-financial life experiences.

Which degrees have the best ROI?

Degrees linked to regulated or high-demand careers, such as medicine, engineering, computing, law, finance, and some healthcare routes, usually have stronger financial ROI. Creative and humanities routes can still be valuable, but earnings outcomes vary more widely.

Graduate premium: is it still real?

The graduate premium still exists on average, but it is uneven. Subject, institution, work experience, region, and occupation matter more than the degree label alone.

Plan 5 loans: why most graduates will not repay in full

Student loan repayments are income-contingent. Under Plan 5, graduates repay 9% above the threshold and any remaining balance is written off after 40 years, so the sticker debt is not the same as a normal bank loan.

What does this mean?

This calculator is designed to help you understand the likely number before you make a decision or start an application.

Your result should be checked against official UK guidance, especially if your circumstances include dependants, exemptions, prior leave, or a complex immigration history.

Treat the figure as a planning tool rather than legal advice. Where the answer affects an application deadline or major payment, speak to an authorised adviser.

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