postsecondary

American  

[pohst-sek-uhn-der-ee] / ˈpoʊstˈsɛk ənˌdɛr i /

Or post-secondary

adjective

1. of or relating to education beyond high school.

   She completed her postsecondary education at a two-year college.

   Students can begin coursework in aircraft maintenance at the high school level and complete it at a post-secondary institution.

---

Etymology

Origin of postsecondary

First recorded in 1920–25; post- ( def. ) + secondary ( def. )

Example Sentences

Right now, federal spending on postsecondary workforce development — which totaled $28.2 billion last year — is largely detached from measurable results.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

Two-thirds of graduates pursue postsecondary education, per a 2022 book published by the institute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Education Department pressuring colleges to improve graduation rates, it should be no surprise that grade inflation has followed students into postsecondary school.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

Instead, employers imported legions of advanced-degree workers — nearly doubling the portion of residents with graduate credentials since 2000, while postsecondary completion for local kids remained essentially flat.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

Just three and a half months ago, my Administration and the Congress successfully concluded over two years of work on a major reauthorization bill that further expands benefits to postsecondary education.

From State of the Union Address by Carter, Jimmy