No, high school is not higher education. High school is classified as secondary education, while higher education refers to schooling that comes after high school, such as college, university, and graduate programs. The confusion is understandable because “high school” and “higher education” sound similar, but they sit at different levels in the education system.
Where High School Fits
The U.S. education system is organized into three broad tiers: primary (elementary school), secondary (middle school and high school), and postsecondary or “higher” education (college and beyond). The National Center for Education Statistics defines upper secondary education as grades 10 through 12, with lower secondary covering grades 7 through 9. A high school diploma is considered an upper secondary credential, not a higher education credential.
In international frameworks, these tiers are numbered. High school falls at level 2 (lower secondary) and level 3 (upper secondary). Higher education starts at level 5 and goes up from there. There is no overlap between the two categories in how governments, schools, and employers define them.
What Counts as Higher Education
Higher education, sometimes called tertiary or postsecondary education, includes any formal academic program you pursue after earning a high school diploma or GED. The main types are:
- Community college and vocational programs that award certificates or two-year associate degrees.
- Four-year undergraduate programs at colleges and universities that award bachelor’s degrees.
- Graduate and professional programs that award master’s degrees, doctorates, or professional degrees in fields like law and medicine.
To be recognized as a higher education institution internationally, a school generally must be degree-conferring, accredited or recognized by a national authority, and have graduated multiple classes of students.
Why the Distinction Matters on Applications
When you fill out a job application or a federal employment profile, you’re asked to select your highest completed education level. The categories treat high school and higher education as separate tiers. On USAJOBS, the federal government’s hiring platform, the options start with “High school or equivalent” and then move upward through technical certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates. Selecting “high school” tells an employer you completed secondary education but have not completed a higher education program.
This matters because many job postings set a minimum education requirement. A position requiring “some college” or an associate degree is asking for at least partial completion of higher education, which a high school diploma alone would not satisfy.
The One Area Where They Overlap
Dual enrollment is the main exception where high school and higher education intersect. These programs let high school students take college-level courses and earn credits that count toward both their diploma and a future college degree. Students might attend classes at their high school taught by a college-approved teacher, travel to a nearby campus for afternoon courses, or take college classes online while enrolled in high school.
Even in dual enrollment, though, the student is still a high school student working toward a secondary credential. The college credits they earn are higher education credits, but the student hasn’t entered higher education full time. Dual enrollment is a bridge between the two levels, not a reclassification of high school itself.
The Short Answer
High school is secondary education. Higher education begins after you graduate from high school (or earn a GED) and enroll in a college, university, or vocational program that awards postsecondary credentials. The two terms describe different stages of schooling, even though the words sound alike.