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Money · University ROI
University ROI Reality Check
For this subject at this institution tier, does a degree pay off? Returns your break-even timeline and the realistic income premium over a non-graduate peer.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.
Formula used
Graduate premium = grad salary − non-grad peer salary. Break-even = (loan + 3-year opportunity cost) ÷ annual graduate premium.
Worked example
A nursing graduate borrowing £45,000, starting at £28,000 vs a non-grad peer at £22,000, has a £6,000 annual premium. Break-even: roughly 12 years, after which the degree pays positive returns.
Common questions
How is the graduate premium calculated?
It is the difference between the median graduate starting salary for your subject area and the median earnings of a non-graduate peer at the same career stage. Institution tier affects the starting figure.
What counts as break-even?
Break-even is when the cumulative graduate income premium equals the total cost of going to university — your loan plus the three years of non-graduate earnings you forfeited during study.
Does the tool account for loan repayment terms?
It uses a simplified model. Actual repayments depend on your entry year and government policy — the tool shows the economic premium, not the exact repayment schedule.
Plain-English summary
The result summary for this calculator will live here.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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