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Open University: graduate earnings and subjects

Updated 25 September 2026Official data: DfE LEO provider-level, tax year 2023–24By the CourseToJob editorial team · Editorial policy

Quick answer

Five years after graduating, Open University graduates had median earnings of £31,800 (middle half: £21,400–£45,000), compared with £33,700 across all GB higher education institutions. 83.9% were in sustained work or further study. The highest-earning subject area was Engineering (£52,300). Source: DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year.

Earnings by subject Official website

Median pay after 1 year: £27,100
Median pay after 5 years: £31,800
In work or study after 5 years: 83.9%
Graduates in 5-year cohort: 9,010
Subject areas with data: 25
CourseToJob subject guides: 26

What do Open University graduates earn by subject?

Official data

Engineering graduates had the highest five-year median at Open University (£52,300) among subject areas with at least 20 graduates measured. The final column shows the same subject across all GB higher education institutions, for context.

Median earnings of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates of The Open University by CAH level 2 subject area, tax year 2023–24. Source: DfE LEO provider-level data. Unadjusted for entry grades or where graduates work; not a ranking of teaching quality.
Subject area	1 year	3 years	5 years	In work or study, 5 yrs	All GB HEIs, 5 yrs
EngineeringGuides: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering335 graduates at 5 years	£46,800	£51,200	£52,300	89.6%	£43,600
Economics30 graduates at 5 years	£35,500	—	£48,700	85.2%	£50,900
Computing455 graduates at 5 years	£37,300	£42,800	£46,500	85.3%	£39,900
Materials and technology25 graduates at 5 years	—	—	£44,300	83.3%	£33,700
Business and managementGuides: Accounting and Finance, Business Management, Marketing415 graduates at 5 years	£35,900	£39,300	£39,500	85.2%	£35,100
Mathematical sciences280 graduates at 5 years	£29,300	£31,700	£38,800	82.6%	£43,600
Health and social care380 graduates at 5 years	£26,400	£38,400	£38,100	89.8%	£30,700
Politics85 graduates at 5 years	£29,300	—	£37,000	79.4%	£36,600
Nursing and midwifery170 graduates at 5 years	£31,800	£35,900	£35,500	94.6%	£37,300
General, applied and forensic sciences180 graduates at 5 years	£29,300	£34,800	£34,800	83.7%	£30,000
Biosciences200 graduates at 5 years	£27,400	£35,000	£34,400	85%	£32,900
Allied health190 graduates at 5 years	£26,900	£29,300	£34,000	84.5%	£35,200
Law470 graduates at 5 years	£26,400	£25,300	£34,000	80.3%	£33,700
Creative arts and design105 graduates at 5 years	£32,500	—	£32,900	80.6%	£27,100
Sport and exercise sciences60 graduates at 5 years	£25,600	—	£32,900	85%	£30,400
Geography, earth and environmental studies175 graduates at 5 years	£27,100	£30,000	£32,100	84.9%	£35,100
Philosophy and religious studies50 graduates at 5 years	£26,700	—	£30,400	85.9%	£33,300
Combined and general studies3,020 graduates at 5 years	£25,600	£33,800	£29,300	81.6%	£30,700
Sociology, social policy and anthropology215 graduates at 5 years	£24,500	—	£29,300	82.9%	£30,000
Psychology795 graduates at 5 years	£24,500	£22,700	£27,800	84.3%	£29,600
English studies460 graduates at 5 years	£23,400	—	£27,800	81.6%	£30,400
Education and teaching385 graduates at 5 years	£21,200	—	£26,700	90.4%	£29,600
History and archaeology420 graduates at 5 years	£25,300	—	£26,400	84.8%	£32,600
Languages and area studies95 graduates at 5 years	£20,900	—	£24,500	81.5%	£35,100
Physics and astronomy15 graduates at 5 years	£31,900	—	—	79.3%	£42,800
All subjects at Open University	£27,100	£37,300	£31,800	83.9%	£33,700

A dash means DfE did not publish a figure, usually because the cohort was small. Each column is a different graduating cohort. Compare subjects nationally.

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Subject guides linked to Open University

26 on this site

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Open University: frequently asked questions

How much do Open University graduates earn?

DfE LEO data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled first-degree graduates of Open University of £27,100 one year after graduating, £37,300 after three years and £31,800 after five years. Each figure is a different graduating cohort, and pay varies widely by subject.

Which Open University subjects have the highest graduate earnings?

Five years after graduating, the highest median earnings at Open University were in Engineering (£52,300), Economics (£48,700) and Computing (£46,500), among subject areas with at least 20 graduates measured.

Is Open University good for graduate employment?

83.9% of Open University first-degree graduates were in sustained employment, further study or both five years after graduating, against 88.7% across all GB higher education institutions. Outcomes reflect subject mix, entry grades and where graduates live as well as the university, so compare the specific subject you want to study.

How do I apply to Open University?

Undergraduate applications to UK universities, including Open University, are usually made through UCAS. Check the exact course, entry requirements, fees and deadlines on the university's official course page before applying. CourseToJob does not handle applications.