First-time entry rates into programs that lead to a bachelor’s or higher degree increased in many OECD-member countries from 1998 to 2001. In 2001, the U.S. rate was lower than the OECD country average.

Rates of entry into postsecondary education provide an indication of the degree to which a country’s population is acquiring higher-level skills and knowledge. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) calculates these rates for its member countries by adding the entry rates for each single year of age from 15 to 29 and for older students in 5-year age groups. Doing so promotes comparability across countries that have different typical entry ages.¹ In addition, the OECD distinguishes between postsecondary (or tertiary) programs that are based largely on theory and designed to prepare students for advanced research programs or high-skill professions (tertiary-type A) and those that focus on occupationally specific skills for direct entry into the labor market (tertiary-type B). In the United States, tertiary-type A programs are mostly offered at 4-year institutions and lead to bachelor’s degrees. Tertiary-type B programs are often provided at community colleges and lead to associate’s degrees.

Among the OECD countries with available data, the average first-time entry rate into tertiary-type A programs rose from 40 percent in 1998 to 47 percent in 2001 (see table 17-1). Increases occurred in 20 of the 22 OECD countries with data. In 2001, the U.S. first-time entry rate was 42 percent. Australia, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and Sweden had entry rates of 60 percent or more. Females had higher rates of entry into tertiary-type A programs than males in 19 of the 26 OECD countries, including the United States. In contrast, males had higher entry rates than females in a number of countries, (e.g., Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Turkey).

In general, entry rates into tertiary-type B programs are lower than in type A programs. In 2001, the average first-time entry rate into tertiary-type B programs was 15 percent for the 23 OECD countries with data and 13 percent for the United States. Females in many OECD countries, including the United States, had higher entry rates into tertiary-type B programs than males.

¹For further details on the calculation of entry rates, see supplemental note 7. (back to text)