Higher education can increase earnings by almost £15,000, a new survey has claimed.

In the latest Graduate Market Trends survey by the Careers Services Unit, under-30s with degrees were found to earn an average £6,000 more than those employees who had not attended university, a difference increasing to £14,588 for those aged between 41 and 50.

"Judging by attendance at the latest season of graduate recruitment fairs, always a reliable indicator of the graduate market, we are now seeing a reversal of fortunes and students can once again look to the employment market with real optimism," said CSU chief executive Mike Hall.

Starting salaries for graduates were found to be highest in management consultancy (£19,726), information technology (£18,835) and engineering (£18,717).

"This reinforces what we have always said, that university is a good investment in your future," said higher education minister Margaret Hodge.

"Going to university means you can learn more to earn more. It is exactly why we are striving to ensure that everybody with the potential to go to university has this opportunity."

Universities UK chief executive, Baroness Warwick, said the report highlighted the value of higher education.

"In a time of uncertainty over jobs in general, it is clear that those who undertake a university education are excellently placed to meet the challenges and reap the rewards of a rapidly changing knowledge-based and competitive market place," she said.

However, the National Union of Students warned that the survey results should not mask inequalities in higher education through the current student funding system.

"These figures cannot be used to justify claims that the current student funding system is working. The real problem is that whatever graduates are predicted to earn will remain a pipe dream for the thousands of students that are currently priced out of higher education," said new national president, Mandy Telford.

"Instead of seeking justification for their regressive student funding policies the government should be concentrating on making university accessible and affordable to all and not just the privilege of the wealthy.

"At present just 13 per cent of students from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds go on to higher education, compared to 73 per cent from professional backgrounds. NUS is concerned that these figures will mask the fact that it actually the wealthy benefiting from a system that favours them."