HC Deb 01 April 2003 vol 402 c621W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average lifetime earnings of graduates, broken down by degree subject. [102533]

Margaret Hodge

The White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", highlighted how the financial returns to a degree vary by degree subject. No specific estimates have been made of the average lifetime earnings of graduates broken down by subject. Higher education is a good investment. The White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", highlighted how those with higher education qualifications earn on average around 50 per cent. more than non-graduates. There will inevitably be some individual variation in lifetime returns because graduate earnings are influenced by a number of factors, including the subject studied, institution attended, occupational choices and other personal characteristics and demographic factors.