Universities accused of ‘mis-selling’ degrees with sky-high fees that short-change students
A quarter of students leave with a degree that does not justify the £50,000 debt they find themselves in once graduating
UNIVERSITIES were last night accused of running a “mis-selling scandal” over sky-high fees for courses that short-change students.
A quarter get degrees that do not “deliver a lifetime earnings premium” to justify a £50,000 debt, analysis of official figures has revealed.
The Onward think tank said that, on average, people on creative arts courses are pocketing just £23,200 per year a decade after they have left university.
By comparison, graduates of economic degrees earn £48,000. Yet 126,000 people studied creative arts in 2016-17 as universities significantly ramped up the number of places offered.
Onward said it was “scandalous” universities were charging the same £9,250 tuition fee when courses, standards and earnings potential varied so much.
And they urged ministers to cap fees for courses that fail to deliver on future wages — to generate £1billion to lower the cost of student debt for others.
Onward chair and Tory MP Neil O’Brien said: “Too many students are effectively being mis-sold a university education.
“The data shows there is a substantial minority who don’t earn much but get left with big debts. We should steer people away from courses that don’t lead to good outcomes.”
Chris Hale, of Universities UK, said: “Looking at salary levels doesn’t tell us everything. Many graduates will work in fulfilling careers in the arts or that have important social impact where salaries may not be high.
“We must be wary of simplistic analysis equating good outcomes only with high salaries.”
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