Australia is a dream destination for many students. Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and world-class education. But here is a question every student asks: “Will I get a good job after graduation?”
The answer depends on which university you choose. Some Australian universities have amazing job placement records. Their graduates earn high salaries right from the start. Others are good but not great.
In this article, we will show you the top 10 universities in australia with highest graduate salaries. We will also cover best business schools in australia, graduate outcomes ranking, and which uni has the highest employment rate. Everything is in simple, easy English.
Let us begin.
Why Study in Australia?
Australia is not just beautiful. It is smart. Here is why international students love Australia:
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High quality education – Australian degrees are respected worldwide.
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Good salaries – Fresh graduates earn between AUD $65,000 and $90,000 per year.
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Work while studying – You can work 48 hours per fortnight during school and full-time during breaks.
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Post-study work visa – After graduation, you can stay and work for 2 to 4 years.
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Path to permanent residence – Many international students become permanent residents of Australia.
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Great weather – Sunny days, beautiful beaches, and outdoor lifestyle.
For students from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the Philippines, Australia is a top choice.
What is Graduate Salary and Why Does It Matter?
Graduate salary is the money you earn in your first job after university. It matters because:
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It shows which universities employers trust.
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It helps you pay back your education loan faster.
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It gives you a good start in life.
A university with high graduate salaries usually has strong industry connections, good internship programs, and a respected name.
Top 10 Universities in Australia with Highest Graduate Salaries
Here is our carefully researched list. These universities have the highest graduate salaries based on QS Graduate Outcomes Ranking, Times Higher Education, and government data.
1. University of New South Wales (UNSW) – Sydney
UNSW is often called the number one university for graduate salaries in Australia. Why? Because UNSW focuses heavily on employability. Their courses are practical. Their career support is excellent. UNSW graduates earn a median salary of AUD $85,000 to $95,000 per year.
Why choose UNSW?
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Best for engineering, business, and law
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Strong industry connections in Sydney
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Very high employment rate
UNSW consistently ranks at the top of graduate outcomes ranking lists.
2. University of Sydney (USYD)
The University of Sydney is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected universities. Their graduates are highly sought after by employers. Medicine, law, and business graduates earn especially high salaries. Median salary: AUD $80,000 to $90,000.
Why choose Sydney?
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Located in Sydney’s business district
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Strong alumni network
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Excellent for medicine and health sciences
3. University of Melbourne
Melbourne is often called Australia’s cultural capital. The University of Melbourne is the top-ranked university in Australia according to many global rankings. Their graduates earn high salaries, especially in law, medicine, and finance. Median salary: AUD $78,000 to $88,000.
Why choose Melbourne?
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Highest global ranking in Australia
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Strong research culture
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Great for students who want to work in academia or research
4. Australian National University (ANU) – Canberra
ANU is in Canberra, Australia’s capital city. It is the best university for politics, international relations, and economics. Graduates often work in government, which pays well. Median salary: AUD $75,000 to $85,000.
Why choose ANU?
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Best for policy, government, and economics jobs
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Small city with lower cost of living
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Very high employment rate
5. Monash University – Melbourne
Monash is a young university but very highly ranked. It is famous for pharmacy, engineering, and business. Monash has strong industry partnerships. Many students get jobs before they even graduate. Median salary: AUD $73,000 to $83,000.
Why choose Monash?
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Strong industry connections
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Excellent for pharmacy and health sciences
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Large international student community
6. University of Queensland (UQ) – Brisbane
UQ is in Brisbane, a sunny city with a lower cost of living. UQ graduates earn good salaries, especially in mining, engineering, and health. Median salary: AUD $72,000 to $82,000.
Why choose UQ?
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Lower cost of living than Sydney or Melbourne
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Strong in mining and resources engineering
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Beautiful campus
7. University of Western Australia (UWA) – Perth
UWA is in Perth, on the west coast. Perth is close to mining and resources companies. Engineering and geology graduates from UWA earn very high salaries. Median salary: AUD $70,000 to $80,000.
Why choose UWA?
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Best for mining and resources jobs
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Lower cost of living
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Smaller class sizes
8. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
UTS is a practical, hands-on university. Their courses are designed with industry input. UTS graduates are ready to work from day one. Business, IT, and design graduates earn high salaries. Median salary: AUD $70,000 to $78,000.
Why choose UTS?
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Practical, job-focused courses
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Located in central Sydney
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Strong in IT and design
9. Macquarie University – Sydney
Macquarie is known for business and finance. Their graduates work at top banks and accounting firms. Macquarie has a strong internship program. Many students get job offers through internships. Median salary: AUD $68,000 to $76,000.
Why choose Macquarie?
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Strong in business and finance
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Good internship opportunities
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Located in Sydney’s tech and business hub
10. University of Adelaide
Adelaide is a smaller city but a great place to study. The University of Adelaide is strong in engineering, health, and wine business (yes, wine!). Graduates earn good salaries, especially in engineering. Median salary: AUD $67,000 to $75,000.
Why choose Adelaide?
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Lower cost of living
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Strong in engineering and health
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Good for students who want a quieter city
Best Business Schools in Australia – High Salaries for MBA Graduates
If you want a business degree or an MBA, here are the best business schools in australia with the highest graduate salaries:
| Business School | University | Average MBA Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| UNSW Business School | UNSW | $160,000+ |
| Melbourne Business School | UniMelb | $155,000+ |
| University of Sydney Business School | USYD | $150,000+ |
| Monash Business School | Monash | $140,000+ |
| UQ Business School | UQ | $135,000+ |
These best business schools in australia are recognized worldwide. Employers love their graduates.
Graduate Outcomes Ranking – How Australian Universities Perform
The graduate outcomes ranking measures how well university graduates find jobs and how much they earn. This ranking is published by QS, Times Higher Education, and the Australian government.
Here is how Australian universities perform in the graduate outcomes ranking (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2025):
| Australia Rank | University | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNSW Sydney | #25 |
| 2 | University of Sydney | #30 |
| 3 | University of Melbourne | #45 |
| 4 | Monash University | #70 |
| 5 | ANU | #80 |
| 6 | UTS | #100 |
| 7 | UQ | #110 |
| 8 | Macquarie | #130 |
As you see, Australian universities perform very well in graduate outcomes.
Which Uni Has the Highest Employment Rate?
This is a very common question: which uni has the highest employment rate?
According to recent data from the Australian government (QILT survey), here are the universities with the highest full-time employment rates for graduates:
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UNSW Sydney – 92% employment within 4 months
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University of Sydney – 90%
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University of Melbourne – 89%
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Monash University – 88%
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ANU – 87%
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UTS – 86%
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UQ – 85%
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UWA – 84%
UNSW has the highest employment rate among Australian universities.
Australian Universities QS World Ranking 2026 – Where They Stand
The australian universities qs world ranking 2026 is not fully released yet. But based on 2025 rankings, here is the expected top 10 for 2026:
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University of Melbourne – #14 in the world
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UNSW Sydney – #19
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University of Sydney – #20
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ANU – #30
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Monash University – #42
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University of Queensland – #43
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UWA – #72
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University of Adelaide – #89
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UTS – #90
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Macquarie University – #130
These rankings show that Australian universities are among the best in the world.
Highest Package University in World – Where Does Australia Rank?
Many students ask: highest package university in world – which university gives the highest salary package?
Globally, the highest package universities are usually in the USA (MIT, Stanford, Harvard). But among Australian universities, the highest package university in world ranking looks like this (for Australia):
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UNSW – Highest average graduate salary in Australia
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University of Sydney – Second highest
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University of Melbourne – Third highest
If you compare globally, Australian universities offer salaries between AUD $70,000 and $95,000 for fresh graduates. US top universities offer between USD $80,000 and $120,000. So US salaries are higher, but Australian cost of living is often lower.
QS World University Rankings Employment Outcomes – Explained
The QS World University Rankings employment outcomes is a special ranking. It does not just look at research. It looks at:
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Graduate employment rate
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Graduate salary
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Number of alumni in CEO positions
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Partnerships with employers
Here are the top Australian universities in QS World University Rankings employment outcomes:
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UNSW
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University of Sydney
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University of Melbourne
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Monash University
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ANU
These universities are the best for getting a job after graduation.
NSW University Ranking – Universities in New South Wales
NSW university ranking refers to universities in New South Wales (the state where Sydney is located). Here are the top NSW universities by graduate salary:
| NSW Rank | University | Average Graduate Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNSW Sydney | $85,000 – $95,000 |
| 2 | University of Sydney | $80,000 – $90,000 |
| 3 | UTS | $70,000 – $78,000 |
| 4 | Macquarie University | $68,000 – $76,000 |
| 5 | University of Wollongong | $65,000 – $72,000 |
| 6 | University of Newcastle | $63,000 – $70,000 |
If you want to study in NSW, UNSW and University of Sydney are your best bets for high salaries.
How to Choose the Right University for High Salary
Here are 5 questions to ask yourself:
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Which industry do I want to work in? – Mining → UWA. Finance → UNSW. Government → ANU.
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Which city do I want to live in? – Sydney has high salaries but high rent. Brisbane has lower salaries but lower rent.
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Can I afford the tuition? – Top universities are expensive. Expect AUD $40,000 to $55,000 per year.
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Does the university have strong industry connections? – UNSW, Sydney, and Monash are leaders here.
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Is the course practical or theoretical? – UTS is very practical. ANU is more theoretical.
Best Graduate Universities – Final Recommendations
Here are the best graduate universities by category:
| Category | Best University |
|---|---|
| Highest salary overall | UNSW |
| Best for business/MBA | University of Melbourne |
| Best for engineering | UNSW, UWA |
| Best for medicine | University of Sydney, Melbourne |
| Best for IT/computer science | UNSW, UTS |
| Best for law | University of Sydney, ANU |
| Best for government/policy | ANU |
| Best for mining/resources | UWA, UQ |
Final Tips for International Students
Here are important points to help you succeed:
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Choose a university with strong internship programs – Work experience helps you get a higher salary.
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Learn Australian workplace culture – Australians value teamwork, honesty, and punctuality.
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Use university career services – They help with resumes, interview practice, and job applications.
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Network early – Attend career fairs and industry events from your first year.
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Consider regional universities – Some regional universities have lower fees and still offer good job outcomes.
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Check the post-study work visa rules – Different degrees give different lengths of work rights.
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Start your job search early – Many students start applying 6 months before graduation.
Conclusion
Australia is a fantastic place to study and work. The top 10 universities in australia with highest graduate salaries are led by UNSW, University of Sydney, and University of Melbourne. These universities also top the graduate outcomes ranking and answer the question which uni has the highest employment rate – it is UNSW.
For business students, the best business schools in australia are at UNSW, Melbourne, and Sydney. The australian universities qs world ranking 2026 shows that Australian universities are among the best globally. While the highest package university in world is usually in the USA, Australian universities offer excellent value and a clear path to work and permanent residence.
Check the QS World University Rankings employment outcomes for more details. If you are looking at NSW university ranking, UNSW and University of Sydney are the top choices.
Do your research. Prepare your documents. Apply to 3 to 5 universities. And take the first step toward a high-paying career in Australia.
Good luck.