Higher education in Israel
Higher education holds significant importance in Israel. Similar to other countries, completing a first degree is a threshold condition for applying for entry-level jobs in the labor market. There are 10 universities in Israel, of which nine are funded by the state and one is private - Reichman University. In addition, many academic colleges operate in the country. In the academic year 2020/21, the number of first-degree students in higher education institutions in the country reached 211.6 thousand. The average age of new first-time entrants to higher education in Israel is one of the highest among OECD countries - 24 years. The main reason for that is the mandatory military service or civil service for Israelis between the ages of 18 and 21 for men and 18 to 20 for women.
