What is Tertiary Education? Why Does It Matter?

There’s primary, secondary, and tertiary education. But what is tertiary education exactly? And what are the benefits of tertiary education?

As a provider of tertiary education, we at University of the People, are strong proponents of continued higher education. We will share everything you should know about the tertiary education meaning so that you can figure out whether or not it is something you wish to pursue.

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What is Tertiary Education?

Tertiary education refers to any academic pursuit beyond a high school education. Tertiary education is more commonly called postsecondary education.

As such, tertiary education includes:

• Certificates
• Associate’s degrees
• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• Doctoral degrees

Tertiary education can take place at:

• Community colleges
• Colleges
• Universities
• Technical schools
• Vocational schools

Facts About Tertiary Education

​​Given the array of different types of tertiary education options, as well as the means by which you can achieve them, it’s nice to understand some of the basic facts.

These include:

Online Options

Online options are available across various degree levels, including: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. This is also true of certificate programs that happen at the undergraduate or graduate level.

For example, University of the People provides tertiary education options that are tuition-free for students around the world. Our students get to choose to earn their associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or certificates entirely online (which offers immense flexibility).

Financial Aid

If you choose not to attend a tuition-free program, the price of tertiary education can quickly skyrocket. To help to offset the costs associated with school, students can utilize various forms of financial aid. Financial aid may be offered from your university, the federal and state government, and private organizations. There are different types of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and student loans. 

Prerequisites

Depending on the institution at which you decide to obtain your form of tertiary education, there are prerequisites to enroll. For undergraduate programs, most institutions require high school transcripts (and potentially a minimum GPA), standardized test score submission (SAT or ACT), and a personal statement. Graduate degrees typically require students to provide proof of their undergraduate degree, letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, transcripts, and possibly graduate standardized test scores.

A Look at Some Types of Tertiary Education

So, what’s the difference between the forms of tertiary education available?

Here’s a quick look at some options so you can figure out which is right for you based on your current situation and future goals.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are geared towards students who seek career training to enter a career within a short amount of time. Certificate programs can generally be completed within 6 months to a year. Check out the University of the People’s certificate programs to see some examples.

Undergraduate Degrees

Undergraduate degrees take about two years (for an associate’s degree) to four years (for a bachelor’s degree) to complete. Students can earn their undergraduate degree at any time in their life, but it often happens right after completing high school.

Within these programs, students spend the first year or two on general education and then take specialized courses based on their major of choice. Along with core coursework, students will take some electives within different disciplines to secure a well-rounded education.

Undergraduate degrees open the door to more degree possibilities and a higher earning potential than just having a high school diploma.

Graduate Degree Programs

If you take the route of completing a bachelor’s degree, then you have the option to continue onto graduate degree programs, which consist of master’s degrees and doctoral degrees. Some fields require that their professionals have a graduate degree to work. For example, this is the case for careers in research or professions like law and medicine.

Graduate Certificate Programs

For those who have completed an undergraduate degree, graduate certificate programs provide an option to further expand knowledge and skills without committing all the time and money required for a graduate degree program. However, should you enroll in a graduate certificate program and then decide that you do wish to earn a master’s degree, some schools will allow that coursework to count toward credits for the degree.

Benefits of Tertiary Education

Choosing to attend any form of tertiary education often comes along with a cost/benefits analysis. Since you will need to commit time, energy, and funds to the endeavor, you’ll likely find yourself asking what you may get out of doing so.

The truth is that there are many advantages to tertiary education, some of which include:

Higher Earning Potential and Employability

Many careers require applicants to possess some kind of degree or certificate. Typically, the higher the education that you earn, the greater your earning potential becomes.

For example, when comparing a person with a bachelor’s degree to one with a high school diploma, data shows that the person with the degree is half as likely to be unemployed and also will make $1 million more in additional earnings over their lifetime than the high school diploma holder.

Career Specialization

When students are in high school, they are able to learn more about their interests and the topics they care to continue learning about. With this knowledge, they can specialize and choose a career path during the college experience. Depending on the position you wish to obtain, you may require a degree or certificate to even enter the field.

Personal Development

Along with the earnings and knowledge associated with tertiary education, the experience aids in personal development. Students who continue their education will hone skills like time management, communication skills, critical thinking, and more.

Networking

Last but not least, enrolling in tertiary education grants the possibility to network with people from all different walks of life. Even if you enroll in an online school, you get to communicate with peers from all over the world and learn from their experiences.

When you are pursuing your education, you have the opportunity to apply for internships and network with professionals so that once you earn your degree or certificate, you may have already connected with the people you wish to work with in your career.

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The Bottom Line

You now have the answer to the question: What is tertiary education? Now, the next question is: Do you want to pursue tertiary education?

If the answer is yes, then you will undoubtedly get to reap the many upsides that come along with it. And, the good news is that if you wish to attend an institution of tertiary education at an affordable price, then options are available to you in the form of online education.