30 January 2026
UCL finds the graduate premium for young women is over-estimated
Analysis by UCL has identified that the graduate premium for young female graduates has been over-estimated as it doesn’t take into account the longer hours they work.
Based on a longitudinal study of nearly 3,000 young people aged around 35-36, the researchers identified the wages they earned at age 25, then also gathered data on hourly wages and hours worked.
On wages alone, female graduates earn nearly 27% more than non-graduates, though this reduced to 13% once background characteristics were accounted for. However, when hours worked was added to the calculation, the graduate premium fell to just 4.8%.
Read more about the UCL analysis of the female graduate premium.
Based on a longitudinal study of nearly 3,000 young people aged around 35-36, the researchers identified the wages they earned at age 25, then also gathered data on hourly wages and hours worked.
On wages alone, female graduates earn nearly 27% more than non-graduates, though this reduced to 13% once background characteristics were accounted for. However, when hours worked was added to the calculation, the graduate premium fell to just 4.8%.
Read more about the UCL analysis of the female graduate premium.
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