higher education

Extracted Attributes

• Also Known As

  tertiary education, post-secondary education, third-stage education, third-level education

• Typical Outcomes

  Certificates, diplomas, academic degrees

• Societal Benefits

  Lower unemployment and poverty, decreased demand on public budgets, lower smoking rates, lower incarceration rates, higher civic participation (volunteer work, voting, blood donation)

• Impact on US Costs

  Costs inflated by federal student loan program

• Individual Benefits

  Higher income, lower unemployment rates, better self-reported health, reduced risk for premature death, critical thinking, problem-solving, lifelong learning

• ISCED Classification

  Levels 5, 6, 7, 8 (ISCED 2011)

• Typical Institutions

  Universities, colleges, vocational schools, community colleges, research universities, liberal arts colleges

• Global Enrollment Ratio

  43%

• UNESCO Definition Focus

  Specialized fields, academic and higher vocational education

• World Bank Relevance (2019)

  Increasingly relevant for workers to compete in labor market due to technology

• Global Enrollment (as of 2025)

  264 million students

• Average Weekly Earnings (US, 2024, Bachelor's)

  $1,305

• Average Weekly Earnings (US, 2024, High School)

  $800

Timeline

• The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) structure defines higher education as levels 5, 6, 7, and 8. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2011

• The World Bank's World Development Report on the future of work argues that tertiary education is becoming even more relevant for workers to compete in the labor market. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2019

• 66.2 percent of high school graduates aged 16 to 24 years in the United States were enrolled in universities or colleges. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020

• The average weekly earnings for bachelor's degree holders in the US are $1,305, compared to $800 for those with only a high school diploma. (Source: web_search_results)

  2024

• Global student enrollment in universities more than doubled, reaching 264 million students. (Source: web_search_results)

  2005-2025 (approx)

Tertiary education

Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools. Higher education is taken to include undergraduate and postgraduate education, while vocational education beyond secondary education is known as further education in the United Kingdom, or included under the category of continuing education in the United States. Tertiary education generally culminates in the receipt of certificates, diplomas, or academic degrees. Higher education represents levels 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the 2011 version of the International Standard Classification of Education structure. Tertiary education at a nondegree level is sometimes referred to as further education or continuing education as distinct from higher education. UNESCO stated that tertiary education focuses on learning endeavors in specialized fields. It includes academic and higher vocational education. The World Bank's 2019 World Development Report on the future of work argues that given the future of work and the increasing role of technology in value chains, tertiary education is becoming even more relevant for workers to compete in the labor market.

Web Search Results

• Higher education in the United States - Wikipedia

  In the United States, higher education is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary education. It is also referred to as post-secondary education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education. It covers stages 5 to 8 on the International ISCED 2011 scale. It is delivered at 3,931 Title IV degree-granting institutions, known as colleges or universities. These may be public or private universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for-profit [...] The education and training that takes place in a university, college, or Institute of technology usually includes significant theoretical and abstract elements, as well as applied aspects (although limited offerings of internships or SURF "Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)") programs attempt to provide practical applications). In contrast, the vocational higher education and training that takes place at vocational universities and schools usually concentrates on practical [...] colleges. U.S. higher education is loosely regulated by the government and by several third-party organizations and is in the process of being even more decentralized.

• Enrollment in Higher Education - Healthy People 2030

  Higher education is any type of education after high school (12th grade), including 2-year college (community college), certificate programs, 4-year college (bachelor programs), graduate programs, and professional programs. In 2020, 66.2 percent of high school graduates ages 16 to 24 years were enrolled in universities or colleges.1 This summary will focus on enrollment in and graduation from a 4-year college in relation to improved health and well-being. [...] have only completed high school.3,6 The average graduate with a bachelor’s degree will earn double what the average individual without a degree will make in their lifetime.4 Higher education helps people secure better-paying jobs with fewer safety hazards.3 Income from these employment opportunities may improve health by increasing people’s ability to accrue material resources, such as higher-quality housing, as well as psychosocial resources, such as higher social status.3,7 [...] Overall, higher education can lead to improved health and well-being, as well as reduced risk for premature death.3,7,8,9 College graduates have better self-reported health than high school graduates,9 and individuals with more education are less likely to report conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.7 Furthermore, individuals with more education are more likely to exercise, drink less alcohol, and seek preventive health care when needed.2,3,7

• What you need to know about higher education

  ## Why does higher education matter? Higher education is a rich cultural and scientific asset which enables personal development and promotes economic, technological and social change. It promotes the exchange of knowledge, research and innovation and equips students with the skills needed to meet ever changing labour markets. For students in vulnerable circumstances, it is a passport to economic security and a stable future. ## What is the current situation? [...] Higher education has changed dramatically over the past decades with increasing enrolment, student mobility, diversity of provision, research dynamics and technology. Some 264 million students are enrolled in universities around the world – a number that has more than doubled in the last 20 years and is set to expand. Yet despite the boom in demand, the overall enrolment ratio is 43% with large differences between countries and regions. More than 9 million students are pursuing their further [...] Skip to main content UNESCO Search Shareforward Rawpixel/Shutterstock.com Higher education # What you need to know about higher education Last update:23 June 2025 UNESCO, as the only United Nations agency with a mandate in higher education, works with countries to ensure all students have equal opportunities to access and complete good quality higher education with internationally recognized qualifications. It places special focus on developing countries, notably Africa.

• 10 Benefits of Education That Will Surprise You | UoPeople

  Some people know exactly what they want to do once they enter the workforce, and some people may need higher education to get to where they need to be. A college degree is a required prerequisite for a growing number of jobs. Even if you aren’t sure what you want to do after graduation, it is a great benefit to go to college. Higher education will help narrow your interest and refine your skill set, showing you exactly what you are good at and what field you may want to enter. [...] Higher education offers numerous benefits for both personal and societal growth. It equips you with specialized knowledge and skills tailored to your chosen field, enhancing your career prospects and earning potential. You’ll develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a habit of lifelong learning. [...] ### 2. Broader Practical Benefits Higher education provides several practical benefits. College graduates tend to have higher incomes and lower unemployment rates. As of 2024, the average weekly earnings for bachelor’s degree holders are $1,305, compared to $800 for those with only a high school diploma​​​​.

• [PDF] The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society

  Societal benefi ts include: • Higher levels of education correspond to lower levels of unemployment and poverty, so in addition to contributing more to tax revenues than others do, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, generating decreased demand on public budgets. • College graduates have lower smoking rates, more positive perceptions of personal health, and lower incarceration rates than individuals who have not graduated from college. [...] higher levels of education are more likely to engage in organized volunteer work, to vote, and to donate blood; they are more likely to be in good health and less likely to smoke; and they are less likely to be incarcerated. Th e young children of adults with higher levels of education are read to more frequently than other children; they have higher cognitive skill levels and better concentration than other children. All of these areas aff ect social expenditures, in addition to general [...] • Higher levels of education are correlated with higher levels of civic participation, including volunteer work, voting, and blood donation.

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• Instance Of

  Q18189