United States Tertiary Enrollment
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) SE.TER.ENRR
United States's tertiary enrollment was 75.14% in 2025, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2005–2025.
Overview
United States's tertiary enrollment stood at 75.14% in 2025, a decline of +4.22pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 75.14% by 2025. United States ranked 45th globally.
United States tertiary enrollment fell from its all‑time peak of 88.89 % in 2015 to 75.14 % in 2025, placing the country 45th globally and marking the lowest level recorded over the 12‑year coverage period. The decline of 13.75 percentage points reflects a reversal of the expansion that characterized the early 2000s, when enrollment stood at 80.63 % in 2005. By contrast, peer nations such as New Zealand (76.77 %) and the Russian Federation (77.57 %) maintained slightly higher participation rates in 2025, underscoring a relative lag for the United States. The trough coincides with a period of rising tuition costs, demographic shifts, and reduced federal aid, factors that have curtailed access to post‑secondary education. If policy reforms expand financial support and address affordability, the downward trajectory could be halted and enrollment may begin to recover, potentially restoring the United States to a more competitive position among advanced economies.
Data & projection
| Year | Tertiary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 75.14% | - | - |
| 2025 | 75.14% | −4.22pp | #45 |
| 2022 | 79.36% | −5.49pp | #26 |
| 2021 | 84.86% | −2.71pp | #21 |
| 2020 | 87.57% | −0.32pp | #15 |
| 2019 | 87.89% | −0.41pp | #13 |
| 2018 | 88.30% | +0.13pp | #13 |
| 2017 | 88.17% | −0.67pp | #12 |
| 2016 | 88.84% | −0.05pp | #11 |
| 2015 | 88.89% | +0.26pp | #9 |
| 2014 | 88.63% | −0.10pp | #7 |
| 2013 | 88.73% | +8.09pp | #6 |
| 2005 | 80.63% | – | #7 |
Analysis
United States's tertiary enrollment was 75.14% in 2025, a decline of −4.22pp from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 75.14% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
United States's tertiary enrollment was 75.14% in 2025. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from the previous year.
United States's tertiary enrollment peaked at 88.89% in 2015.
The lowest tertiary enrollment in United States was 75.14% in 2025.
United States ranks 45th globally in tertiary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.TER.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
United States's tertiary enrollment is projected to reach 75.14% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The tertiary enrollment of United States in 2025 was 75.14%. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_united-states_tertiary-enrollment,
title = {United States Tertiary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/united-states/tertiary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}