How to evaluate placement and salary claims

Identify the cohort

Find out whether the claim concerns the exact course, study mode and graduating batch you are considering. A university-wide statistic can combine very different programmes. For online study, do not substitute campus outcomes for online learner results.

Ask how many students were eligible, how many participated and how many received offers. These denominators matter: a percentage without a clearly defined population can create a misleading impression.

Separate the outcome types

Placement assistance, employer events, job listings, interviews and accepted offers are different outcomes. Ask which one a provider is promising and what conditions apply. A workshop can be valuable without representing a job guarantee.

For working professionals, distinguish a new job from a promotion or salary change within an existing role. Consider prior experience and other changes during the study period before attributing the result entirely to the qualification.

Read salary measures carefully

A highest salary is an exceptional observation, not a typical expectation. An average can be affected by a small number of high values. A median can be informative but still needs a defined cohort and reporting method. Compare fixed pay, variable pay and total cost-to-company consistently.

Also check whether figures mix domestic and international offers, different currencies, internships and full-time jobs. Without these details, a headline should remain a question rather than become a financial assumption.

Research the roles you can pursue

Collect current job descriptions matching your location, experience and interests. Record the qualifications, technical skills and work samples requested. Talk to people doing similar work where possible. This gives you a practical target for learning and portfolio development.

For a fresher, internships and first projects may matter more initially than a specialisation name. For an experienced learner, the key question may be whether the programme supports a specific change in responsibility or function.

Use conservative planning assumptions

When comparing cost, build a scenario in which your income does not increase immediately after graduation. Then consider what evidence would justify a more optimistic scenario. The ROI tool is a way to explore your assumptions, not a forecast of earnings.

Keep written evidence of any promise that influences your decision and read the conditions attached to it. Select a programme whose learning value and affordability remain reasonable even when the most optimistic marketing outcome does not occur.

Common questions