Korkeakoulutaso

Korkeakoulutaso is a Finnish term used to describe the level of higher education attained by an individual or by a population. It is commonly employed in education statistics and policy discussions to denote tertiary education, as opposed to primary or secondary schooling.

In the Finnish system, higher education is provided by two types of institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulut). The korkeakoulutaso encompasses degrees such as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Depending on the data source, it may also include licentiate degrees. The concept is used to categorize and compare educational attainment across different groups and over time.

Statistical usage often expresses korkeakoulutaso as the share of adults who have completed tertiary education, commonly measured for age bands such as 25–64 or 25–34. It serves as a key indicator of educational attainment and is analyzed in relation to factors like region, gender, and socioeconomic background.

Policy and economic relevance arise from the association between higher education levels and outcomes such as employment prospects, earnings, and innovation capability. The korkeakoulutaso provides insight into the accessibility and effectiveness of a country’s tertiary education system and its alignment with labor market needs.

International context: the concept aligns with broader EU and ISCED classifications of higher education levels. Data on korkeakoulutaso are collected by Statistics Finland and used in national reports as well as cross‑country comparisons.