[The Census](https://readinessindex.io/census)

[Q4 2026](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4)

[Compare regions](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare)

Universities and colleges

Side by side, never added together

# Universities and colleges

Higher education in each region, measured against the same Index. Each region’s population is its own cohort, drawn from that country’s own register and scored against the same Index. There is no figure across regions: it would be a number about whichever region has more sites.

Index 12.1 · Census Q4 2026

Region

- [United States](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4)
- [United Kingdom](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk)
- [Canada](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/ca)
- [Compare regions](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare)

3 populations, 3 measured

## Universities and colleges in each region

| Region | Population | Median and spread | Scanned | Gated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United States | [US Colleges and Universities](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/us/education/higher-ed) Every active, degree-granting US college and university that takes part in federal student aid, as IPEDS reports it. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) | **59** · 16–79 | 3553/3954 | 1283 of 3553 |
| United Kingdom | [UK Universities and Higher Education Providers](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/universities) Every registered higher education provider in England, and the universities and colleges of higher education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Office for Students (England); Medr (Wales); Scottish Funding Council (Scotland); NI Direct, Northern Ireland Executive (Northern Ireland) | **59** · 29–76 | 368/460 | 123 of 368 |
| United Kingdom | [UK Further Education Colleges](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/further-education) The general further education and sixth-form colleges of the four nations. Department for Education (Get Information About Schools); Scottish Funding Council; Medr; NI Direct, Northern Ireland Executive | **60** · 16–76 | 226/284 | 86 of 226 |

Purple line is the median. Grey band is the middle half of the range. A population drawn from a different kind of register is not the same population: the UK’s schools are schools, where the US cohort is the districts that run them.

Comparisons

## The other comparisons

- [Schools and school systems](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/schools) · The bodies that run public schooling, and in the UK the schools themselves.
- [Hospitals and health systems](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/hospitals) · Where patients look for care.
- [National government](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/national-government) · The websites central governments run on hosts of their own.
- [Legislators](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/legislators) · Elected members and the websites each publishes.
- [States, provinces and devolved governments](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/regional-government) · The level between national and local government.
- [Local government](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/local-government) · Counties, cities, councils and municipalities.
- [Banks and credit unions](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/banks) · Deposit-takers, where trust and accuracy are the product.
- [Charities and nonprofits](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/compare/charities) · The largest charitable organizations.