RMIT University: What graduates can expect to earn

A nationwide survey of graduates has revealed which universities are most likely to help you score a full-time job — and how much you could expect to earn — with city campuses low. SEE HOW YOUR UNI RANKED

Parade of graduates from RMIT walking down Swanston St in Melbourne on their way to graduation.

Students studying at RMIT are more likely to find full-time employment after graduation compared to competing “sandstone” universities.

According to data from the Federal Department of Education’s Graduate Outcomes Survey RMIT has a full-time employment rate of 64.3 per cent while Melbourne University is just 57 per cent.

The two city campuses have had a long standing rivalry between students with Melbourne University, ranked 32 in the world, seen as a sandstone institution boasting traditional academic outcomes.

Although RMIT sits between 351 to 400 on the world’s best list, graduates slightly earn more than those from Melbourne with a median full-time salary of $60,000 compared to Melbourne’s $59,000.

A University of Melbourne spokeswoman said many of its graduates go to further study in Masters and Doctoral degrees, as well as finding full-time work.

Only two big-city universities are among the top 10 for graduate employment – and neither is in Victoria – exclusive new data obtained by The Melbourne City News reveals.

Among the top eight universities, at least three quarters of last year’s graduates found full-time work this year.

But in the worst-performing universities, more than half the graduates were still hunting for a full-time job, four months after finishing their degree.

RMIT graduate Jasmine Wallis working as a freelance writer and podcaster says many in creative industries don’t find full time employment due to a rising gig economy.

“I learnt a lot of great skills at RMIT. I believe that the networks I made there have really helped me in my career since graduating a year ago,” she said.

“However, between growing job instability and the pandemic, there appears to be less stable full-time work for creatines.

“Most of the people I graduated with are either working part-time or, like me, are piecing together a full-time income through the gig economy and multiple freelance clients.

“Creative skills and careers need to be taken more seriously by people so new graduates aren’t taken for granted or expected to work for free to get a foot in the highly competitive door.”

The top-performing university with headquarters in Victoria is Monash University, where 72.3 per cent of students have found full-time work within four months of graduation.

The survey, commissioned by the federal Department of Education, does not reveal whether graduates found work in the same field they studied at university.

University course offerings may affect the earning potential of graduates.

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