Eurostat reports that 44.8% of people aged 25–34 in the EU had completed tertiary education in 2025, putting the bloc close to its 2030 target of at least 45%.
Read the verified evidence first, then consider how it may affect fields of study, skills, countries or career direction.
Eurostat reported on 3 September 2026 that 44.8% of EU residents aged 25–34 had completed tertiary education in 2025. In 2005 the share was 27.2%, so tertiary attainment has risen by 17.6 percentage points over two decades.
The European Education Area target is for at least 45% of people aged 25–34 to hold a tertiary qualification by 2030. The 2025 figure means the EU is already very close to that threshold. Eurostat also reported a large gender difference: 50.5% of women in this age group had a tertiary qualification compared with 39.3% of men. Among people living in cities, the share reached 55.0%.
For students, the important point is not simply that more people are going to university. A degree is becoming more common across Europe, which can increase the value of what sits around the degree: field-specific skills, internships, digital capability, language competence and evidence of applied experience.
This does not mean every student needs a university degree or that a higher qualification guarantees employment. It means students should compare the qualification with the labour market, the country and the skills attached to the programme rather than judging a course by the degree title alone.
Turn the headline into a better study question.
A single market or education signal should not decide your degree. Compare it with your academic profile, budget, target country and long-term career plan.