Analysis

Career outcomes after upper secondary

What happens after upper secondary school? We have analysed graduation rates, higher education progression, and labour market establishment for 1283 upper secondary schools using data from the Swedish National Agency for Education — broken down by university preparatory programmes, vocational programmes, and introduction programmes.

March 2026 · Source: Swedish National Agency for Education

University preparatory programmes

University preparatory programmes aim to give students eligibility for higher education. Here we show the graduation rate (the share who graduate within 3 and 4 years respectively) and the share who actually go on to study at a university or university college.

80.4 %

Avg graduation rate (3 years)

1064 schools with data

83.0 %

Avg graduation rate (4 years)

1047 schools with data

48.6 %

Avg share progressing to higher ed (3 years)

1067 schools with data

Distribution: share progressing to higher education (3 years)

P10: 31.5 % · P25: 40.2 % · Median: 48.0 % · P75: 55.3 % · P90: 67.3 %

Based on 1067 schools. Shows the share of students studying at university 3 years after graduating from a university preparatory programme.

Vocational programmes

Vocational programmes prepare students for direct entry into the labour market. Here we show the graduation rate, labour market establishment three years after graduation, and the share who nevertheless choose to continue studying at university.

75.1 %

Avg graduation rate (3 years)

1011 schools with data

77.5 %

Avg graduation rate (4 years)

1000 schools with data

38.7 %

Avg labour market establishment (3 years)

1080 schools with data

Introduction programmes

Introduction programmes are aimed at students who are not eligible for a national upper secondary programme. The goals are for the student to move on to a national programme, find employment, or begin studying at another level.

24.6 %

Avg graduation rate (5 years)

920 schools with data

31.8 %

Avg labour market establishment (3 years)

676 schools with data

24.8 %

Avg further studies (3 years)

516 schools with data

Top 20 — highest share progressing to higher education

The 20 upper secondary schools where the highest share of students from university preparatory programmes go on to study at a university or university college three years after graduation.

# School Municipality To higher ed % Graduation rate %
1 Lycée Francais Saint Louis, gy Stockholm 100.0 8.7
2 Musikkonservatoriet Falun Falun 100.0
3 Sigrid Rudebecks gymnasium Göteborg 91.0 95.6
4 Viktor Rydberg gy. Djursholm Danderyd 89.8 91.9
5 Viktor Rydberg gy. Jarlaplan Stockholm 89.8 91.9
6 Viktor Rydberg gy. Odenplan Stockholm 89.8 91.9
7 Viktor Rydberg gy. Sundbyberg Sundbyberg 89.8 91.9
8 Göteborgs Högre Samskola gy. Göteborg 87.9 95.0
9 Hitachigymnasiet Ludvika Ludvika 85.4 94.4
10 Hitachigymnasiet Västerås Västerås 85.4 94.4
11 Europaskolan Strängnäs Strängnäs 85.0 91.9
12 Täby Enskilda gymnasium Täby 84.5 94.8
13 S:ta Ragnhildgymnasiet Södertälje 84.4 74.3
14 LM Engströms gymnasium Göteborg 84.1 95.9
15 Einar Hansengymnasiet Malmö 83.3 87.7
16 Johannes Hedberggymnasiet Helsingborg 83.3 87.7
17 Sigtunaskolan hum. läroverket, gy Sigtuna 83.2 91.4
18 Sigtunaskolan hum. läroverket, int gy Sigtuna 83.2 91.4
19 Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet Södermalm Stockholm 82.6 70.8
20 Franska Skolan/Ecole francaise Gymnasium Stockholm 81.3 84.0

Lowest share progressing to higher education

The 10 upper secondary schools where the lowest share of students from university preparatory programmes go on to higher education. A low value may be due to the programme offering, the regional labour market, or students choosing other paths after graduation.

# School Municipality To higher ed % Graduation rate %
1 Lunds Fordonstekniska Gymn. Lund 0.0
2 SYAB Transportgymnasium Kalmar 0.0
3 Yrkesgymnasiet Täby Täby 0.0
4 Liljaskolan, Järnvägsteknik Vännäs 14.0 87.1
5 Liljaskolan, sektor A Vännäs 14.0 87.1
6 Liljaskolan, sektor B Vännäs 14.0 87.1
7 Liljaskolan, sektor C Vännäs 14.0 87.1
8 Svalöfs gymnasium Svalöv 14.6 57.1
9 Axevalla Hästcentrum Skara 15.2
10 Naturbruksskolan Svenljunga Svenljunga 15.2

Top 20 — best labour market establishment (vocational programmes)

The 20 upper secondary schools where the highest share of students from vocational programmes are established in the labour market three years after graduation.

# School Municipality Establishment % Graduation rate %
1 Praktiska Gymnasiet Nyköping Nyköping 80.8 68.2
2 Herrgårdsgymnasiet 1 Säffle 77.4 76.8
3 Älvdalens Utbildningscentrum Älvdalen 76.1 86.9
4 Tyresö gymnasium Tyresö 75.9 83.9
5 Bergstrands Gymnasium Märsta Sigtuna 75.5 69.5
6 Bergstrands Gymnasium Stockholm Stockholm 75.5 69.5
7 Bergstrands Gymnasium Uppsala Uppsala 75.5 69.5
8 Yrkesgymnasiet Ale Ale 75.5 74.4
9 Yrkesgymnasiet Munkedal Munkedal 75.5 74.4
10 Nils Holgerssongymnasiet i Skurup Skurup 73.7 77.9
11 Axevalla Hästcentrum Skara 71.7 71.2
12 Naturbruksskolan Svenljunga Svenljunga 71.7 71.2
13 Naturbruksskolan Sötåsen Töreboda 71.7 71.2
14 Naturbruksskolan Uddetorp Skara 71.7 71.2
15 Munkagårdsgymnasiet Varberg 70.6 70.8
16 Peabskolan Göteborg Göteborg 70.6 62.9
17 Peabskolan Malmö Malmö 70.6 62.9
18 Peabskolan Solna Solna 70.6 62.9
19 Liljaskolan, Järnvägsteknik Vännäs 68.2 86.8
20 Liljaskolan, sektor A Vännäs 68.2 86.8

Lowest labour market establishment (vocational programmes)

The 10 upper secondary schools where the lowest share of students from vocational programmes are established in the labour market. A low value may be due to the regional labour market, student composition, or other factors.

# School Municipality Establishment % Graduation rate %
1 Lilla Akademiens Musikgymn. Stockholm 0.0
2 Lycée Francais Saint Louis, gy Stockholm 0.0
3 Musikkonservatoriet Falun Falun 0.0
4 Stift. Sthlm Intern. School gy Stockholm 0.0
5 Viktor Rydberg gy. Djursholm Danderyd 6.0
6 Viktor Rydberg gy. Jarlaplan Stockholm 6.0
7 Viktor Rydberg gy. Odenplan Stockholm 6.0
8 Viktor Rydberg gy. Sundbyberg Sundbyberg 6.0
9 Täby Enskilda gymnasium Täby 8.6
10 Hersby gymnasium Lidingö 9.0

Career outcomes per municipality

Average career outcomes for municipalities with at least two upper secondary schools. Sorted by share progressing to higher education.

Municipality Schools To higher ed % Establ. voc. % Grad. univ. prep. % Grad. voc. %
Lidingö 3 80.6 9.0 65.3
Danderyd 4 76.7 17.4 88.0 95.2
Sollentuna 14 68.1 21.9 83.0 67.5
Älmhult 2 67.3 23.5 61.1 76.0
Stockholm 96 64.4 24.0 79.5 65.4
Båstad 2 64.1 29.7 78.2 68.4
Botkyrka 5 63.9 27.1 86.3 79.0
Härryda 7 63.7 27.2 91.3 91.6
Värmdö 4 60.4 29.1 74.7 69.0
Vänersborg 4 60.2 31.0 83.9 73.8
Sundbyberg 3 59.1 38.3 86.7 72.7
Upplands Väsby 2 59.0 35.9 54.1
Strängnäs 2 58.7 51.0 79.3 81.8
Håbo 2 58.6 30.6 77.0 62.5
Torsås 2 58.6 20.3 54.7
Linköping 28 57.9 30.1 84.6 74.1
Tingsryd 2 57.5 45.3 86.2
Huddinge 7 56.3 29.9 76.3 67.5
Söderköping 3 56.3 33.3 76.9 50.0
Motala 6 56.1 35.7 69.9 75.0
Oskarshamn 3 55.2 35.8 85.7 84.6
Malmö 35 54.8 32.5 79.3 68.3
Göteborg 81 54.7 33.6 83.1 71.4
Sigtuna 8 54.5 38.7 83.1 74.8
Härnösand 3 54.4 31.7 77.6 70.1
Solna 9 53.9 37.3 75.0 67.1
Uppsala 25 53.5 34.7 80.7 73.4
Ulricehamn 2 53.1 41.8 57.8 56.8
Åmål 3 52.9 34.1 89.0 79.0
Södertälje 11 52.6 41.5 69.5 69.9

Correlation: graduation rate and higher education progression

Scatter plot showing the relationship between graduation rate (university preparatory programmes, 3 years) and the share who go on to higher education. Each dot is an upper secondary school. A clear positive correlation means that schools with high graduation rates also have high higher education progression.

997 schools with data for both graduation rate and higher education progression.

Methodology and sources

Graduation rate indicates the share of students who graduate within 3 years (or 4-5 years depending on the measure and programme type). A higher graduation rate is generally linked to better career outcomes.

Higher education progression shows the share of students from university preparatory programmes who are enrolled at a university or university college three years after graduation. The measure is based on register data from Statistics Sweden (SCB).

Labour market establishment measures the share of students who have an established position in the labour market three years after completing their education. A person is counted as established if they have an income above a certain threshold and do not have student grants or long-term unemployment.

Introduction programmes are aimed at students without eligibility for national programmes. Graduation rate is measured after 5 years, and labour market/further studies after 3 years.

Important caveats: The school's geographic location, the programmes offered, and students' backgrounds affect the results. A school with a high share of vocational programmes in shortage occupations (e.g. healthcare, construction) may have a higher establishment rate than a school focused on more theoretical vocational programmes. Therefore, primarily compare schools with similar programme offerings.

Data: Swedish National Agency for Education. Processed by Skolkoll. Glossary · About the data.

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