Women who are first in their family to go to university earn significantly less than those with university-educated parents, according to this research by University College London, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
The UCL study analysed data on 7,700 participants of a longitudinal study following of a group of people, born in 1989-90 in England, since secondary school.
It found that women were less likely to attend an elite institution but more likely to work in jobs below their qualification level, it found. They also tended to have lower grades but were committed to working hard.
It found women graduates in their mid-20s whose parents had not been to university earned 7% less than those whose had.
They earned about £2,000 less a year than more advantaged female graduates, who are on a salary of £27,000.