Mapping Australian higher education, 2013

by Andrew Norton

Grattan Institute’s annual assessment of the state of Australian higher education shows that both numbers of domestic students and costs are rising sharply, following the abolition of most enrolment controls in 2012.

As a result, the Government faces a bill of nearly $7 billion for tuition subsidies by 2015-16. Enrolments in health and engineering courses – areas of on-going skills shortages – have grown more quickly than other areas.

Graduates continue to do well, with the estimated career earnings of a bachelor-degree holder increasing by about $80,000 in real terms between 2006 and 2011, compared to someone with a Year 12 only education.