People on social welfare benefits get less financial return on tertiary study than other students, the Ministry of Education says.
The ministry has published reports on the post-study incomes of Maori, Pasifika, women and people who were on low incomes before they started studying.
The reports show most people enjoy a jump in earnings after they graduate but that the increase is not as big for those who were on benefits before they started studying.
They also showed Maori students got a bigger income boost from study than other groups but after five years they were earning less than non-Maori with the same qualifications, and that women earn less than men.
