School enrollment, tertiary in United States of America

United States of America: School enrollment, tertiary was 79.4% in 2022. β–² Rising

Latest (2022)
79.4%
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
31st
of 193 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2015
All-time low
46.8%
in 1971
Years of data
39
1971–2022

School enrollment, tertiary in United States of America, 1971–2022

0204060801971199620221971: 46.8 % gross1972: 48 % gross1973: 48.3 % gross1974: 48.4 % gross1975: 50.1 % gross1976: 53.6 % gross1977: 51.8 % gross1978: 52.4 % gross1979: 51.8 % gross1980: 52.9 % gross1981: 55.3 % gross1982: 56.9 % gross1983: 57.5 % gross1984: 58.8 % gross1985: 59.2 % gross1986: 61 % gross1987: 64 % gross1988: 66.8 % gross1989: 68.6 % gross1990: 71.5 % gross1991: 72.8 % gross1992: 77.1 % gross1993: 78.7 % gross1994: 79.5 % gross1995: 80.3 % gross1996: 79.3 % gross1998: 70.9 % gross1999: 71.4 % gross2005: 80.6 % gross2013: 88.7 % gross2014: 88.6 % gross2015: 88.9 % gross2016: 88.8 % gross2017: 88.2 % gross2018: 88.3 % gross2019: 87.9 % gross2020: 87.6 % gross2021: 84.9 % gross2022: 79.4 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in United States of America is 79.4%, measured in 2022.

The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary 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 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 28 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 80.4% compare
  2. 29 Slovenia 80.1% compare
  3. 30 Uruguay 80.0% compare
  4. 32 Denmark 79.0% compare
  5. 33 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 78.3% compare
  6. 34 Puerto Rico 77.9% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places β†’

More education data for United States of America

All data for United States of America β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in United States of America?
School enrollment, tertiary in United States of America was 79.4% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 46.8% in 1971.
How does United States of America rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
United States of America ranks 31st out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
Is school enrollment, tertiary 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-tertiary-percent-gross/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
237 places, 7,325 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.