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In England it is well known that access to university, on average, varies substantially by the levels of parental income and that students from poorer families access different types of universities than those from wealthier backgrounds. However, the question of whether graduates’ earnings vary according to their socioeconomic backgrounds amongst graduates attending similar universities and taking the same subject has remained poorly understood, thus far limited by data availability. Our unique administrative database offers substantial advantages in addressing this crucial question. The findings are also relevant for myriad other issues that benefit from better information on variation in graduates’ earnings, including: students’ choices of subjects and institutions; better information for schools to help advise and guide students whilst at school; and the operation and cost of the higher education finance system.