September 11, 2025

According to the OECD's annual “Education at a Glance 2025” report, which examines education systems using comparative data, Türkiye ranked among the countries that made the most progress. Effective policies, increased access at all levels from preschool to higher education, rising completion rates in higher education, and low dropout rates form the basis of these developments.

According to the “Education at a Glance 2025” report published today by the OECD, which presents the most comprehensive comparative data on education systems, Türkiye is showing strong growth in education. The report reveals that Türkiye stands out among OECD countries in terms of increasing educational inclusion and engaging its young population in education.

Türkiye is one of the countries with the lowest dropout rates and highest completion rates in higher education

One of the key findings in the report was Turkey's level of success in higher education. The first-year dropout rate for undergraduate programs in Turkey is only 1%. This rate is the lowest compared to the OECD average of 13%.

According to the report, 64% of undergraduate students in Türkiye graduate on time, while 86% graduate within three years of the expected graduation year. These rates demonstrate the impact of the comprehensive support Türkiye offers to students in higher education.

The completion rate in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields was 81%, and in health fields it was 94%, well above the OECD averages of 58% and 74%, respectively. Furthermore, the completion rate for women, at 91%, exceeded that of men, at 80%. These rates, which are above the OECD averages of 75% for women and 63% for men, show that Türkiye has strengthened equal opportunities in higher education in this regard.

The increase in international students in higher education was also reflected in the report. The percentage of international students in Türkiye rose from 1.7% in 2018 to 4.3% in 2023. This development reflects the growing attractiveness of Türkiye's higher education system on a regional and global scale.

Türkiye also exceeds the OECD average in terms of the share of public resources allocated to education

The share of public resources allocated to education is 10.6%, above the OECD average of 10.1%. However, Türkiye is one of the countries, along with Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, that does not charge tuition fees at public higher education institutions. This policy is indicative of the approach adopted to finance higher education through public funds rather than individual payments.