Key findings

What does the 2025 data show?

The number of students completing a formal qualification increased overall by 8.0% from 2024 to 2025.

• The number of completions increased in 2025 for both domestic students (up 6,875 or 5.9% from 2024, to 123,200), and international students (up 3,865 or 22% to 21,230).
• All subsectors showed increases in domestic completion numbers. Private training establishments showed the highest increases both numerically (up 2,985) and percentagewise (12%).
• All ethnic groups showed increases in domestic completions. The Māori and Pacific Peoples groups had the highest increases at 10% and 17% respectively.
• Domestic completions increased in most levels of study. The highest increases were for certificates at Level 1 (up 14%), and certificates at Level 4 and graduate certificates and diplomas (both up 13%). Falls were seen for those completing honours degrees or postgraduate certificates/diplomas (down 3.6%), and bachelors and masters degrees (both down less than 1%).
• Younger domestic students (under 20 years of age) showed higher percentage increases in completions (10%) in 2025 than those aged 20 years and over (5.3%).
• The most notable increases in international students completing were at the masters level of study, with numbers up by 45% from 2024 and for certificates at Level 4, up 35%.

The completion and retention rates for domestic students at bachelors level remained stable in 2025, while the Level 4 certificate completion rate recovered from the previous year’s dip. Domestic graduate progression rates increased at all levels of study except masters degrees, and graduate certificates and diplomas.

• Domestic completion rates for students who started Level 4 certificates three years prior recovered to 62% in 2025 after a dip to 59% in 2024. Bachelors degree 7-year completion rates remained steady at 68%.
• Level 4 certificate domestic three-year completion rates increased in 2025 for European, Māori and Pacific Peoples. Domestic seven-year completion rates for bachelors degrees increased for Māori and Pacific Peoples in 2025, and decreased for Asian students. Asian students continue to have the highest completion rate for Level 4 certificates and bachelors degrees.
• Women and those studying full-time continue to have higher qualification completion rates than men and part-time students respectively.
• The retention rate (proportion of students who either complete a qualification or continue in a higher-level qualification within 8 years of enrolling) remained steady in 2025 at 72% for domestic students who had started bachelors degrees in 2018, the same as the 2024 rate for 2017 starters.
• The graduate progression rate (proportion who continued to higher level study one year after completing a qualification) increased at most levels of qualifications. The exceptions among domestic students were those completing masters degrees in 2024, where the rate decreased, and graduate certificates and diplomas, where it remained steady.

Students completing qualifications

The number of students completing a qualification increased overall by 8.0% from 2024 to 2025. The overall increase in 2025 reflects changes in both domestic and international student completions (see Figure 1). Completion numbers generally follow the pattern of enrolments in the preceding few years (find information about tertiary enrolments here).

Key differences in the completion patterns of domestic and international students

• The number of domestic students completing a qualification increased by 6,875 or 5.9% from 2024 up to 123,200 in 2025. International student completions went up by 3,865 or 22% to 21,230 in 2025.
• The highest increases for domestic students were for certificates at Level 1, certificates at Level 4 and graduate certificates and diplomas (by 13 or 14%). The largest increases for international students were at masters level (45%) and certificates at Level 4 (35%).
• Falls were seen for those completing honours degrees or postgraduate certificates/diplomas for both domestic (down 3.6%) and international students (down 5.4%). Domestic bachelors and masters degrees were both down by less than 1%. International completions had their largest decrease for certificates at Level 1 (down 13%). International doctoral degrees (down 6.9%) and certificates at Level 2 (down 3.1%) also fell in 2025.
• Domestic student completions were steady at universities (up 0.4%), and increased at polytechnics (7.7%), wānanga (7.1%) and private training establishments (12%). In contrast, international completions increased by at least 20% in all subsectors.

Domestic student completions by demographic and study characteristics

For domestic students in 2025, male students had a higher percentage increase in completions (7.6%) than female students (up 5.0%). However, female students had a higher total increase (3,720 compared with 3,110 for male students). Completions by younger domestic students (those aged under 20 years) increased by 10% in 2025, while older students (aged 20 years or more) increased by 5.3%.

The number of domestic students completing formal qualifications increased in 2025 for all ethnic groups. The largest increases were for Māori (up 3,025 or 10%) and Pacific peoples (up 1,890 or 17%). Completions by domestic Asian students increased by 1,545 or 6.8% and European students by 2,010 or 3.0%.

For domestic students completing a formal qualification, 2025 saw larger increases in management and commerce (20%), food, hospitality and personal services (10%), mixed field programmes (9.7%) and education (8.0%). Other broad fields of study also increased apart from agriculture, environmental and related studies (down 4.1%) and health (down 2.7%).

Figure 1: Number of students completing qualifications 2010-2025

Qualification completion rates

Qualification completion rates can be calculated for any number of years after a group of students has started study. The completion rate for each qualification level reaches a plateau once all students have either completed or stopped their studies, after which it no longer changes. The rates shown in the graphs below have different follow up periods to allow for the different length of qualification: 3 years for Level 4 certificates and 7 years for bachelors degrees. Qualification completion rates for all levels of study for up to ten years after starting study are provided in the linked tables.

Figures 2 and 3 compare completion rates for Level 4 certificates by study pattern and gender. Figures 4 and 5 compare bachelors degrees by the same variables.

Domestic completion rates for students who started Level 4 certificates three years prior recovered to 62% in 2025 after a dip to 59% in 2024. Bachelors degree 7-year completion rates remained steady at 68%. Completion rates for part-time students remain lower than for full-time students, and female students’ rates are higher than for males.

Figure 2: Level 4 certificate 3-year domestic completion rates by study pattern

Figure 3: Level 4 certificate 3-year domestic completion rates by gender

Figure 4: Bachelors degree 7-year domestic completion rates by study pattern

Figure 5: Bachelors degree 7-year domestic completion rates by gender

Figures 6 and 7 show domestic completion rates for Level 4 certificates and bachelors degrees by ethnicity.

Level 4 certificate completion rates increased in 2025 for Māori, Pacific peoples and European ethnic groups. Asian students continue to have the highest domestic completion rates for Level 4 certificates and bachelors degrees.

Domestic completion rates for bachelors degrees increased for Māori and Pacific Peoples, and decreased for Asian students. Overall, bachelors degree completion rates have seen a very slight upward trend since 2011.

Figure 6: Level 4 certificate 3-year domestic completion rates by ethnicity

Figure 7: Bachelors degree 7-year domestic completion rates by ethnicity

Retention rates

Retention rates measure how long students persist in their studies. The retention rate includes students who completed their qualification as well as those who did not complete their original qualification but continued their studies in a higher-level qualification. The remaining proportion of students who leave without completing make up the attrition rate.

The latest 8-year domestic retention rate across all types of study for bachelors degrees (beginning study in 2018) is 72%, while for full-time study the bachelors degree retention rate is 79%.

Across all qualification levels and types of study, the 8-year domestic retention rate is 75%, while for full-time study it is 83% (see Figure 8). These rates have been quite steady over the past few years.

Figure 8: 8-year domestic retention rate by study pattern, for bachelors degrees and all qualifications

Graduate progression rates

Many students continue their tertiary studies after completing a tertiary qualification, and this progression is often to a higher level of study than the qualification completed. Not surprisingly, graduate progression rates are usually higher for those completing level 1-4 certificate qualifications when compared to qualifications at level 5 or above, such as graduate diplomas and masters degrees. An exception to this is bachelors degrees (a level 7 qualification), which also have relatively high graduate progression rates.

In 2025, for domestic students completing a qualification in 2024:

• 37% of Level 1 and 2 certificate graduates continued with study at a higher level
• 31% of Level 3 certificate graduates continued with higher-level study
• 32% of Level 4 certificate graduates continued with higher-level study, and
• 19% of bachelors degree graduates continued with higher-level study.

In contrast, 10% of those domestic students completing a graduate certificate or diploma in 2024 continued with higher-level study in 2025, while only 3% of masters graduates went on to start a PhD or other doctoral degree.

For international students, the highest graduate progression rates are seen for certificates at Levels 3 or 4 with rates for 2024 completers being 65 and 45% respectively. It is likely that study at these levels is in courses which improve a student’s English skills and enable subsequent study at higher levels.

Technical notes and definitions

Methodology

Full details of the method used to calculate tertiary qualification completion, attrition, direct progression and graduate progression rates can be found in the factsheet: How does the Ministry of Education calculate tertiary qualification completion rates? It covers terminology and definitions, and provides worked examples of the calculations, as well as example data tables with guides to their interpretation.

Overview

The proportion of New Zealanders with educational qualifications has been increasing for several decades. Although this growth slowed between 2019 and 2022, it began rising again in 2023 and continued through 2024 and 2025. This recent increase likely reflects graduations from cohorts who enrolled or extended their study during the COVID‑19 pandemic, along with a surge in net migration. While gaps persist for Māori and Pacific peoples, the overall proportion of Māori with no qualification has remained steady and continues to decline for Pacific peoples. The proportion of Māori and Pacific peoples with a degree or higher qualification has remained stable.

Educational attainment in the population is an important indicator in measuring how well societies are doing. People with higher-level qualifications have higher rates of employment and higher earnings than those with low or no qualifications. They are also more likely to experience a range of better social outcomes, such as better health, social connection and civic engagement.

As the requirements for many jobs and the expectations of employers continue to change, education provides the skills and knowledge necessary for a more productive workforce and for participation in society. Education contributes to an expansion of scientific and cultural knowledge. A population's educational levels are positively related to economic growth rates and to a country's capacity to provide its citizens with a high standard of living.

People's qualifications are often considered a proxy for 'human capital', that is their skills and knowledge. Changes in the educational attainment of the population also provides information about access to education and the equity of the education system.

Knowing how educational attainment in New Zealand compares with other countries is an important measure of how well our system is going, and where we might learn from other countries.

How we are doing

These data look at the population aged 25 to 64. This covers those who are likely to have completed their initial school and tertiary education and are less likely to have retired.

Educational attainment in New Zealand has continued to rise over several decades. In 2005, around one‑fifth (22 percent) of 25‑ to 64‑year‑olds did not hold a school qualification. By 2018 this had fallen to 15 percent. Progress slowed between 2019 and 2022, with the proportion remaining around 15 percent, before declining to 14 percent in 2023, holding steady through 2024, and dropping further to 13 percent in 2025.

The number of New Zealanders gaining tertiary qualifications has also increased. In 2025, there were an additional 10,800 adults aged 25 to 64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher, although this was a significant reduction compared with the unusually large increase of 73,000 recorded in 2024. Overall, the proportion of adults with a tertiary qualification rose from 58 percent in 2005 to 66 percent in 2025. Growth was concentrated at bachelor’s level and above: the share more than doubled from 19 percent in 2005 to 39 percent in 2025. In contrast, the proportion holding a tertiary certificate or diploma decreased from 39 percent to 27 percent over the same period.

The renewed increase in attainment from 2023 onwards, following a period of minimal change, is likely linked to the COVID‑19 period. During 2020–2021, domestic enrolments rose notably—particularly at degree level and above, where enrolments increased by around nine percent in 2021—as people responded to heightened unemployment and border closures. Some individuals who were previously in work opted to enter study, while others already enrolled chose to extend their study to avoid entering a difficult labour market. Graduations from these cohorts began to materialise in 2023 and continued through 2024 and 2025.

Figure 1: Distribution of the population aged 25 to 64 by highest qualification level

Although tertiary attainment among 25‑ to 64‑year‑olds increased in 2025, younger adults aged 25 to 34 experienced a smaller‑than‑average rise. Within this age group, the proportion of women attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher remained substantially higher than that of men (50 percent compared with 35 percent).

Educational attainment continues to increase for Māori and Pacific peoples but the education gap remains, especially at degree level

Qualification attainment for Māori and Pacific peoples has increased markedly over the past few decades, but gaps relative to other ethnic groups remain. In 2025, 75 percent of Māori aged 25 to 64 held at least a school qualification, up from 67 percent a decade earlier. Pacific peoples showed a similar pattern, with 75 percent holding at least a school qualification in 2025, up from 66 percent ten years ago.

Figure 2: Percentage of Māori and Pacific peoples aged 25 to 64 by selected levels of highest qualification

In 2025, 22 percent of Māori within the 25 to 64 age range held a bachelors degree or higher qualification, marking an increase from eight percent two decades ago. Similarly, among Pacific peoples, 18 percent held a bachelors degree or higher qualification in 2025, a rise from eight percent two decades earlier.

While degree or higher attainment for both Māori and Pacific peoples has increased significantly over the last few decades, it has not increased as much as for other groups, leading to an increase in the gap in attainment.

Some things to note

The age group 25 to 64 is used in this summary, as it covers the population who are likely to have completed their initial school and tertiary education and less likely to have retired.

This analysis relates just to people’s highest qualification. It therefore does not reflect the total attainment for different levels of education. For example, almost all people with degree qualifications will also have a school qualification. People may have attained qualifications in New Zealand or overseas. The qualifications may have been attained recently or up to nearly 40 years ago.

Trends in attainment are also influenced by long-run changes in participation and completion in New Zealand education, as well as the skills and educational attainment of people settling in New Zealand. Migration patterns can also significantly affect both the overall level and distribution of qualifications in the population.