Tertiary learning affords a country the opportunity to develop or improve a strong, autonomous government system. The government, in turn, pours back into the educational system through support, promotion and funding. A focus on tertiary education also includes placing a value on lifetime learning, the generation of knowledge and overall skill development. Education translates into improved economic conditions through stronger civil sectors and overall cultural productivity and quality.
According to USA Today, one study shows that the wage earning potential of someone with a college degree in the U.S. is almost a million dollars more than than that of a high school graduate. Of course, that earning gap varies, depending on the country, but overall, those increased earnings translate into greater overall economic viability through greater spending and taxes. Tertiary education marks a country's financial growth, along with the standard of living.
Tertiary education strengthens a country's further development through technological and scientific research. This relates to the country's own research along with adaptability to research from other nations. Advanced research and technology in a country decreases some of the inequities between developed countries and third-world nations. Ongoing learning also promotes equality in an increasingly shrinking global market.
According to information provided by the Chronicle of Higher Education, as of 2007, over 150 million students were involved in post-secondary education. The fastest rates of growth are occurring in Africa and Asia.