Medicine tops the lifetime earnings chart, but many degrees pay surprisingly little

A UK IFS analysis finds degree earnings vary by subject: medicine can add up to about £400,000 over a lifetime versus non-graduates, while economics also yields strong returns, whereas arts, philosophy, and languages often offer little or negative financial advantage. On average, graduates earn roughly £100,000 more across a lifetime, but about a quarter may be financially worse off than non-graduates. The findings come as the government considers capping low-return courses and introducing minimum English-language requirements for student finance, with debates on whether alternative routes like apprenticeships can offer viable paths.