ANU in QILT 2025: Top-Tier Salaries, Bottom-Tier Student Support
The QILT 2025 data paints a sharply divided picture of The Australian National University. On the salary side, ANU undergraduates report a median salary of A$76,000, which is A$2,000 above the national median of A$74,000. On the student experience side, Student Support comes in at 57.5%, a full 13.7 percentage points below the national average of 71.2%. These are not rankings or overall scores; they are point estimates from two separate national surveys, and each figure needs to be read with its own context and sample size in mind.
Where the Salary Figures Come From
The A$76,000 median salary comes from the Graduate Outcomes Survey, or GOS, which is part of the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching program. QILT is the Australian government’s national data collection on higher education, and the results are published on the ComparED website. The survey asks graduates about their employment and income roughly four to six months after completing their course.
For ANU at the undergraduate level, the median salary figure is based on 1,074 respondents. That is a sample, not a census of every graduate. The national median of A$74,000 is drawn from all participating institutions, so the A$2,000 gap is a comparison between ANU’s sample and the national sample, not a guarantee for any individual graduate.
It is also worth noting that the GOS measures median earnings, not average earnings. The median is the middle value when all reported salaries are arranged in order, which means it is less distorted by a small number of very high or very low earners. For prospective students comparing institutions, this is a more stable indicator than a mean.
What the Longitudinal Data Adds
Beyond the first-year snapshot, QILT also runs a longitudinal version of the Graduate Outcomes Survey, known as GOS-L. This survey follows the same graduates over time and links their reported earnings to Australian Taxation Office records. For ANU, the median graduate earnings are A$52,600 at one year, A$71,400 at five years, and A$86,400 at nine years after graduation.
The national medians for the same time points are A$50,600, A$67,400, and A$77,100. ANU graduates are ahead at every stage, and the gap widens from A$2,000 at one year to A$9,300 at nine years. The one-year figure is depressed by graduates who are still in full-time study, so it should not be read as a starting salary for those who enter the workforce immediately. The five-year and nine-year figures give a clearer picture of long-term earnings growth.
Student Support: The Other Side of the Picture
The Student Support figure comes from a different survey entirely. The Student Experience Survey, or SES, asks current students about their experience during their studies. ANU’s undergraduate Student Support score is 57.5%, based on 3,376 respondents. The national average is 71.2%, which means ANU sits 13.7 percentage points below the benchmark.
This is the largest negative gap in the ANU data set. For comparison, ANU scores above the national average on Peer Engagement at 66.7% against 60.8%, and on Full Time Study at 23.6% against 18.3%. Overall Satisfaction is also above average at 77.9% against 75.1%. The Student Support figure stands out because it is the only major indicator where ANU falls significantly behind the national benchmark.
It is important to understand what the SES measures. Student Support is a composite indicator based on student responses about the support services available to them, including academic and personal support. A low score does not mean that individual students will not receive help; it means that, on average, ANU students report a less positive experience of support services than students at other institutions. The sample size of 3,376 is substantial, but it is still a sample.
How to Verify the Data Yourself
All of the figures discussed here are publicly available on the ComparED website. ComparED is the official QILT comparison tool, and it allows you to search by institution and by indicator. The ANU institution page on ComparED shows the full set of QILT 2025 results, including the survey each figure comes from and the number of respondents.
When you look at the data, pay attention to three things. First, check which survey the figure belongs to. Salary data comes from the Graduate Outcomes Survey, while student experience data comes from the Student Experience Survey. They are not directly comparable to each other. Second, check the sample size. A figure based on 1,074 respondents carries more uncertainty than one based on 5,180 respondents. Third, check the year. QILT publishes results annually, and the 2025 data reflects graduates and students from that cycle.
The QILT website also provides detailed information on data processing and procedures, which explains how the surveys are administered and how the results are calculated. If you want to understand the methodology behind the numbers, that is the place to start.
What the Numbers Do and Do Not Tell You
The QILT data is a useful starting point, but it has limits. The salary figures are medians from a sample, not a promise of what any individual graduate will earn. Your actual salary will depend on your field of study, your location, the employer you join, and the state of the job market at the time you graduate.
Similarly, the Student Support score is an aggregate measure. It does not tell you which specific support services are strong or weak at ANU, nor does it tell you how a particular student will experience those services. If you are considering ANU, the score is a signal that you should look into the support services available and ask specific questions about how they work in practice.
The data also does not tell you why the gap exists. The SES is a survey of student perceptions, and the reasons behind a low score could range from service availability to communication to student expectations. The QILT methodology does not provide causal explanations, so any attempt to explain the gap would be speculation rather than data.
How to Use This Information in Your Decision
If you are comparing universities, the QILT data gives you a consistent national benchmark. ANU’s salary outcomes are strong, and the longitudinal data suggests that the advantage grows over time. The Student Support figure, however, is a clear area of concern, and it is worth investigating further before you commit.
One practical approach is to look at the ANU website for information on student support services, and to ask current students or recent graduates about their experiences. The QILT data tells you that there is a gap; it does not tell you what the gap means for you personally. Your own priorities will determine how much weight to give each indicator.
It is also worth remembering that the QILT data is a snapshot. The 2025 results reflect the experiences of students and graduates from that cycle, and they may not predict future performance. If you are applying for a course that starts in a later year, the data is a reference point, not a forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the A$76,000 salary a guarantee for ANU graduates?
No. It is the median salary reported by ANU undergraduate respondents to the Graduate Outcomes Survey in QILT 2025. The median means that half of the respondents earned more and half earned less. Individual salaries vary widely depending on field of study, location, and employer.
Why is the Student Support score so much lower than the national average?
The QILT data does not provide a reason. The Student Experience Survey measures student perceptions of support services, and ANU’s score of 57.5% is 13.7 percentage points below the national average of 71.2%. The underlying causes are not identified in the published data.
Are the salary figures based on tax records?
The first-year figures from the Graduate Outcomes Survey are based on graduate self-reports. The longitudinal figures from GOS-L are linked to Australian Taxation Office records, which makes them more reliable for the five-year and nine-year data points.
How many ANU students responded to the surveys?
The Student Experience Survey had 3,376 undergraduate respondents from ANU. The Graduate Outcomes Survey had 1,074 undergraduate respondents for the median salary figure. Different indicators within the same survey can have different response counts.
Where can I check the data myself?
The official source is the ComparED website, which is the public interface for QILT data. You can search for ANU and view the full set of indicators, including the survey each figure comes from and the number of respondents.