This report argues that a good tertiary education system steers prospective students towards courses that increase their employment opportunities and minimise their risks, and that Australia’s post-school system does not always achieve this goal.

This report rates Australia’s performance against similar countries and proposes policy reforms for schools and universities, hospitals and housing, roads and railways, cities and regions, budgets and taxes, retirement incomes, and climate change.

This report presents an overview of higher education policy and trends. Since its first edition in early 2012, the report has established itself as a widely used, one-stop source of information on higher education.

Some students who drop out of university never seriously engage with their course, and needlessly accrue a HELP debt before they leave. This report recommends new ways to protect students from unnecessary financial burdens.

The main purpose of this background paper is to provide additional information on the Grattan Institute’s statistical analysis of completion of bachelor degrees at public universities.