University climbs national graduate social mobility index

The University of Derby has climbed several places in a national ranking that measures the social mobility of graduates.

The university has climbed 13 places to 27th place in the Higher Education Policy Institute’s English Social Mobility Index.

The index assesses how effectively universities support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education and succeed.

In the newly published results, which cover 2025, the University of Derby also achieved its highest-ever position for median graduate salaries among students from the most socially-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, ranking eighth nationally.

The rankings are based on several factors, including access to higher education, student continuation rates and graduate outcomes, combining data across all graduate modes of study except apprenticeships.

Compiled by London South Bank University, the index measures social mobility through the number of socio-economically disadvantaged graduates and the social distance they travel for each registered higher education institution in England.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of Derby, said: “I am delighted that the University of Derby’s whole-institution approach is reflected in our significant rise in this year’s Social Mobility Index.

“As an anchor institution committed to widening opportunity and tackling inequity, it is particularly encouraging to see this recognised in the strong median salary outcomes achieved by our graduates – especially from communities that face the greatest structural barriers.

“Indices such as this provide an important contribution to the wider suite of measures that guide the sector and offer valuable context for the Department for Education’s Access and Participation Task and Finish Group.

“Their review of how we can better identify and address systemic barriers, combined with insights such as these, will help drive national efforts to improve social mobility.”