The retirement provider said a three-year delay in starting pension contributions could leave graduates around £24,000 worse off by retirement.
The analysis from Finder found that a one-year delay can mean losing £18,000 from a pension pot, while a two-year delay can mean losing £35,000.
Its survey showed 87% of employers said graduates had some or all of the skills they expected.
The Department for Education said the scheme will help nurseries recruit and retain qualified staff.
Rising rents are limiting graduate mobility, with new research showing young workers need salaries well above the national average to afford housing in some of the UK's fastest-growing job markets.
48.0% said they left university with some skills but not enough to compete.
One in five graduates gave up before applying, according to a survey from Careerminds UK.
Analysis from Careerminds UK found sales and commercial roles were the most open about pay.
The study from Graduate Outcomes found graduates from Scotland were most likely to have lived, studied and worked all in the same local authority at 16.4%.
The research identified a “student loan danger zone” for graduates starting their careers on salaries between £45,000 and £50,000.
Jack Hulatt discusses how graduates can stand out by building practical proof of skills rather than relying on qualifications alone.
A recent event hosted by techUK brought together employers and labour market experts to assess the real impact of AI on entry-level roles.