1. United States: In the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that around 91% of high school graduates enroll in college within the same year of graduating. However, not all students complete their degrees. The NCES also reports that about 65% of students who start college will complete a degree within six years. This suggests that around 60% of high school students in the US may eventually earn a college degree.
2. European Union (EU): In the European Union, the percentage of high school students who attain a degree varies significantly among different countries. For example, in countries like Finland and Slovenia, over 50% of high school graduates go on to complete a tertiary degree (such as a bachelor's or master's degree). On the other hand, in countries like Italy and Spain, the degree attainment rate is closer to 30% for high school graduates.
3. Global Trends: According to the World Bank, the average tertiary enrolment rate (which includes students pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees) has been steadily increasing globally. In 2020, the global tertiary enrolment rate reached approximately 38%. However, there are considerable disparities between developed and developing countries, as well as between different regions and socioeconomic groups.
It's worth noting that these figures are based on averages and there is a wide range of individual variation. Some high school students may choose not to pursue higher education, while others may take longer than six years to complete their degree due to factors such as transferring schools, changing majors, or taking time off for personal or financial reasons.