Higher education is what comes after high school. It includes colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical institutes. Students earn certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The sector is enormous, employing millions and enrolling hundreds of millions worldwide.

Higher education serves multiple purposes. It prepares people for careers. It advances knowledge through research. It shapes citizens and culture. These goals sometimes conflict. A curriculum focused on job skills may neglect critical thinking. A research-heavy university may neglect teaching.

Access and cost dominate the debate. In many countries, higher education is heavily subsidized. In others, students take on significant debt. Completion rates vary widely. Students who start a degree do not always finish. The gap between enrollment and graduation is a persistent problem.

Institution types

• Community colleges
• Four-year colleges
• Research universities
• Technical institutes
• Online and open universities