I already posted the link to a full research study project on employment social mobility and earning potential of degree subjects and universities.
I have also found a site which can tell you the average salary for almost any degree subject at any university. just google which university and your subject+ university.
this conversation has polarized extremes. from someone assuming degrees are gold dust to donkey who seems to assume every apprenticeship out strips every degree.
after research it seems i was slightly wrong the average degree earns more then the average apprenticeship but barely. but this is incredibly misleading.
for example a degree in art and design from Bedfordshire university earns graduates an average starting salary of £15600 which is barely more then min wage only 4% more. take a job at tesco shelf stacking factor in weekend bonus pay etc and you have done better.
Whilst a mathmatics degree from Oxbridge nets over £30000 average graduate salary bit of a difference. and its not just Oxbridge or nothing warwick and Bristol maths degrees for example net graduate average salaries of £28000 and £27000.
this does beat the average salary of someone who has completed an apprenticeship. and life time earnings will be stronger to.
this idea of degree or apprenticeship really depends on your field and what type of apprenticeship your getting vs what type of degree your doing,
Basically if you get onto a course for a strong degree eg Maths, computer science, Medicine, dentistry etc at a prestigious university its def worth doing this. if your looking at a fine art degree at a sub par university it really isn't.
I am strictly speaking in economic terms here, which is what i think counts in the long term but then again some people may have other priorities. its simple google your degree subject look at the institutions you would likely be studying at and make an educated decision from there.