In the mid 1990s, 6.8 percent of Poles had higher education; 2.6 percent were graduates from post-secondary schools; 50.5 percent had secondary education (general, technical or vocational); 33.7 percent had primary education; and 6.3 percent had either incomplete primary education or none.
The percentage of urban residents with higher education was 9.8 percent, which was above the country's average, while for the rural population it was just 1.9 percent. 55.5 percent of urban residents and 42.2 percent of rural residents had secondary education; for primary education, the figures were respectively 27.6 percent and 43.8 percent, while for incomplete primary education or none - 3.6 percent and 10.8 percent.
In the 2000/2001 academic year 1,584,800 students were enrolled in 310 higher-education institutions, with 410,800 of them at 15 universities; 28,100 at 10 medical academies; 332,100 at 94 economic schools; 137,500 at 19 teacher's schools; 12,000 at 21 arts schools; and 9,200 at 14 theological schools. 640 800 osób podnosiło swoje wykształcenie trybem dziennym, a 708 500 - zaocznym. Compared with the previous academic year (1999/2000), the total number of students increased by 152,900. There were 115 state and 195 private higher-education institutions. Of the 1,584,800 students, 472,340 were enrolled in private schools.
The number of people with higher education employed in all sectors of Poland's economy (agriculture excluded) grows rapidly; for example, between 1958 and 1994 it tripled. Most MA degree holders work in education and science institutions (40-50 percent) and justice (over 30 percent). An increasing number of young Poles seek to gain higher education as the diploma has become a valuable asset on the job market, especially when they look for the most attractive, prestigious and well-paid positions.
