Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America
United States of America: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 79.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
79.4%
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
31st
of 194 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2015
All-time low
46.8%
in 1971
Years of data
39
1971–2022
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America is 79.4%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America peaked at 88.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 46.8%, in 1971.
United States of America ranks 31st of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 46.8% | — |
| 1972 | 48.0% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 48.3% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 50.1% | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 53.6% | +6.9% |
| 1977 | 51.8% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 52.4% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 51.8% | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 52.9% | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 55.3% | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 56.9% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 57.5% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 58.8% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 59.2% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 61.0% | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 64.0% | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 66.8% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 68.6% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 71.5% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 72.8% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 77.1% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 78.7% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 79.5% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 80.3% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 79.3% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 70.9% | -10.6% |
| 1999 | 71.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 80.6% | +13.0% |
| 2013 | 88.7% | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 88.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 88.9% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 88.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 88.2% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 88.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 87.9% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 87.6% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 84.9% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 79.4% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50.1% | 46.8% | 53.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 60.1% | 52.9% | 68.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.7% | 70.9% | 80.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 80.6% | 80.6% | 80.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 88.5% | 87.9% | 88.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 83.9% | 79.4% | 87.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 28 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 80.4% compare
- 29 Slovenia 80.1% compare
- 30 Uruguay 80.0% compare
- 32 Denmark 79.0% compare
- 33 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 78.3% compare
- 34 Puerto Rico 77.9% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in United States of America was 79.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.8% in 1971.
- How does United States of America rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- United States of America ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release