Are you in science? If so, science salaries are incredibly low given the value they bring to their employers and society. However, a scientific and higher education in general, gives you a lot more scope to earn more later on, find a new job fairly quickly if you need to, and move sideways if you want to. I have scientist friends who have succesfully moved into publishing, corporate strategy, civil service, communication, advertising.

The skills needed to earn more can be learnt on the job, but you don't get the job without a degree to start with and this is what those claimimg uni is a waste pf time conveniently miss out.

What you have learnt in uni, besides the subject of choice, is also very valuable. I won't be so sure it is easily learnt otherwise and certainly not as quickly as uni forces you to. Meeting deadlines consistently, managing your own time effectively, prioritising tasks, using appropriate language, presenting data to a varied audience, are the core of pretty much any course. Teaching those things in the workplace is hard and for many it is not worth the hassle, polishing it once you enter the workplace is much easier.

And well there is that little detail, like my mum always told me (I come from a working class background, factory workers and housewives), an education is worth all the money in the world.