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Oxford law grads pocket £20,000 a year more than Durham and Warwick peers

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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