This page compares the education systems of US and Indonesia.
Education System Overview
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public/private mix; governance is highly decentralized. Education is primarily a state and local responsibility, while the federal government administers funding, civil-rights protections, student aid, data collection and selected national programs. [U.S. Department of Education] | Mixed public/private system with decentralized school delivery. National ministries establish curriculum, standards and policy, while provincial and district governments manage much of public-school provision. Religious and private providers operate alongside the state sector. |
| Governing Body | State education agencies and local school districts hold most K–12 authority; the U.S. Department of Education administers federal education programs and student aid but does not establish schools, curricula, graduation requirements or state academic standards. [U.S. Department of Education] | Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) for general school education; Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) for the madrasah system; and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) for higher education. |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 5.4% (2021, latest available value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series). [World Bank] | 1.3% of GDP in 2023, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Varies by state. State laws generally begin compulsory attendance between ages 5 and 8 and end it between ages 16 and 19; many states require attendance through age 17 or 18. [NCES] | The established statutory basic-education requirement covers approximately ages 7–15. National policy is expanding access toward 13 years of education, including one preschool year and education through senior secondary level. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | Varies by state; compulsory attendance periods generally span about 9–13 years. [NCES] | 9 years under the established statutory basic-education requirement. The government's 13-year education policy extends the policy target to one year of preschool, six years of primary, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary education. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | — | ECE remains outside the established nine-year statutory requirement, while the 13-year policy prioritizes one preschool year before primary school. Gross PAUD participation was approximately 36.2% in 2025; this indicator covers the broader PAUD population rather than only children aged 3–5. |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | Typically 1 + 5 + 3 + 4: Kindergarten, elementary grades 1–5, middle grades 6–8 and high-school grades 9–12. Grade configurations vary among states and districts. | 6 + 3 + 3: six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education and three years of general or vocational senior secondary education. Some vocational programs operate for four years. |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | — | Approximately 33.5% vocational / 66.5% general, based on 2024/25 upper-secondary enrollment across vocational and general/religious pathways. |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August or September, depending on state and school district. | July, with exact dates set through provincial and local education calendars. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | May or June, depending on state and school district. | June, with regional variation. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | — | Approximately 36 effective instructional weeks; the exact requirement varies by school level, regional calendar and program. |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | — |
Grading System
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | No single national grading scale. Letter grades A–F, percentage scales and standards-based systems are widely used, with rules determined by states, districts and schools. | No single mandatory national A–F or fixed numerical passing scale. Schools use learning-achievement criteria, including KKTP, with numerical results, descriptors, rubrics and competency evidence used according to school and subject assessment arrangements. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Institution-specific; a 4.0 GPA scale with letter grades is common, although institutions may use different grading and GPA conventions. | Institution-specific. A 4.00 GPA scale with letter grades is widely used; individual universities determine grade boundaries and intermediate grades. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | English is the principal language of instruction in most schools. | Bahasa Indonesia is the principal national language of instruction. Regional languages may support instruction in early education where appropriate. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Spanish, Indigenous languages and other languages are used in dual-language, bilingual and community-specific programs; provision varies by state and district. | Regional and local languages may be used as supporting instructional languages. English is primarily taught as a foreign language and is scheduled to become a compulsory primary-school subject from the 2027/28 academic year. [Kemendikdasmen] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 91% of combined public and private K–12 enrollment was in public schools in fall 2021. [NCES] | Approximately 66.5% across primary through senior-secondary education in 2024/25, based on official enrollment totals by school status. Public-school shares differ considerably by education level. |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 standard tuition for eligible resident students attending public elementary and secondary schools. | $0 tuition for compulsory basic education in government schools. Families may still face permitted ancillary costs or locally administered charges outside standard tuition. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes; publicly funded K–12 school systems operate throughout all states and the District of Columbia, with governance and enrollment rules set at state and local levels. [U.S. Department of Education] | Yes. Public primary and secondary schools operate across Indonesia's provinces and districts, complemented by the public religious-school network. |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 9% of combined public and private K–12 enrollment was in private schools in fall 2021, totaling about 4.7 million students. [NCES] | Approximately 33.5% across primary through senior-secondary education in 2024/25, based on official student totals by school status. |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Private-school enrollment is concentrated mainly in cities and suburban areas; in 2021–22, these two locale categories accounted for most private K–12 students. [NCES] | Nationwide, with substantial private, foundation and religious-school provision in densely populated and urban areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 1,898 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in the United States. [IB] | 81 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Indonesia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge programmes and other school-specific international curricula. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, British, American, Australian, Singaporean and other school-specific international or bilingual curricula. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | State-specific. Public-school teachers generally need a bachelor's degree and a state-issued teaching licence or certification; alternative certification routes are available in many states. | A minimum academic qualification of S-1 bachelor's degree or D-IV applied bachelor's level is the national professional benchmark, alongside teacher-certification requirements for eligible professional teachers. |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | — | Approximately 21 students per class group in the latest nationally published comparable primary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | — | Approximately 28 students per class group in the latest nationally published junior-secondary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | Approximately 30 students overall as an indicative upper-secondary figure; general senior-secondary classes average about 32 students while vocational classes are closer to 27. |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. Indonesia's first assessment was conducted in 2001 through the PISA 2000 Plus administration. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 478 / 505 / 502 [OECD] | 379 / 371 / 396. |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 465 / 504 / 499 [OECD] | 366 / 359 / 383. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 463 / 490 / 502 [OECD] | 364 / 365 / 389. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | The United States has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and science performance was about the same, while reading was lower. Science has remained broadly stable over the full participation period, while the latest mathematics and reading results were below their 2018 levels and among the lowest recorded for the United States. [OECD] | Indonesia's raw scores changed from 366 / 359 / 383 in 2022 to 364 / 365 / 389 in 2025 for mathematics, reading and science respectively. OECD analysis finds the 2022–2025 changes statistically about the same in all three subjects. Results in 2025 remained below Indonesia's 2015 performance. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 502 points. [OECD] | Science — 389 points. [Kemendikdasmen] |
Higher Education System
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 3,633 degree-granting institutions in 2022–23: 2,365 four-year institutions and 1,268 two-year institutions. [NCES] | 4,303 institutions in the 2025 national higher-education statistics. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 187 Research 1 institutions under the 2025 Carnegie Research Activity Designations. [Carnegie] | 981 institutions classified as Universitas. Indonesia does not publish a separate statutory category specifically named “research universities.” [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 1,268 two-year degree-granting institutions in 2022–23, including public community colleges and private two-year institutions. [NCES] | The 2025 statistics record 2,885 college/applied institution types: 2,000 Sekolah Tinggi, 389 polytechnics, 465 academies and 31 community academies. Indonesia does not use a single “university of applied sciences” category. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Main Institution Types | Research and doctoral universities; master's universities; baccalaureate colleges; community and associate-degree colleges; technical institutions; and special-focus institutions. | Universities, institutes, Sekolah Tinggi, polytechnics, academies and community academies. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | Public/government-managed: approximately 50.3% | private-managed: approximately 49.7% of registered students in 2025. The official breakdown is 40.99% PTN, 7.17% public religious institutions and 2.18% government-service institutions versus 44.95% PTS and 4.71% private religious institutions. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 26 U.S. universities were in the global top 100 in QS 2027. [QS] | 0 Indonesian universities in the global top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 68 U.S. universities were in the global top 500 in QS 2027. [QS] | 7 Indonesian universities in the global top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2027; Universitas Padjadjaran entered the top 500 at #496. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | — | 12 Indonesian universities in the global top 1000 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | No single national accreditation agency. Institutional and programmatic accreditation is performed by separate accrediting organizations; the U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes agencies that meet federal recognition requirements. [U.S. Department of Education] | BAN-PT (National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education), complemented by discipline-specific Independent Accreditation Agencies (LAM). Accreditation processes continued their transition to the SAPTO 2.0 system during 2026. [BAN-PT] |
| International Students (Total) | 1,177,766 international students in 2024/25. [Open Doors] | 8,050 foreign students were studying in Indonesian higher education institutions at the end of 2025. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 6% of the U.S. higher-education population in 2024/25. [Open Doors] | Approximately 0.07%, based on 8,050 foreign students and 10,754,154 registered tertiary students in 2025. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | Average published tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for in-state students: $11,950 in 2025–26. [College Board] | A representative 2026/27 regular undergraduate UKT range at Universitas Indonesia is approximately $57–$1,590 per year, converted from IDR 500,000–14,000,000 per semester. Fees vary by institution, program and assigned contribution tier, and some programs charge more. [Universitas Indonesia] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Average public four-year out-of-state tuition and fees: $31,880 in 2025–26. International students commonly pay the out-of-state rate at public universities, although institutional rules vary. [College Board] | Indicative foreign-student bachelor's tuition at Universitas Gadjah Mada is approximately $2,840–$5,280 per year, converted from IDR 25–46.5 million per semester. One-time institutional development fees are additional and vary by program. [UGM] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | Indicative public-university international or English-medium programs are approximately $1,760–$5,280 per year in current ITB postgraduate and UGM international undergraduate examples, excluding one-time charges and partner-university costs. [ITB] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | Approximately $200–$225 per month equivalent for UGM's 2026 INCULS regular Indonesian-language program, based on IDR 13,692,300 for a 15–17 week semester. [UGM] |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | US | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | The United States operates a decentralized education system in which states and local school districts control most decisions involving curricula, graduation requirements, school administration and teacher licensing. Compulsory attendance rules differ by state, while the common K–12 sequence runs from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Public schools serve about 91% of students in the latest nationally comparable public/private enrollment data, with private schools serving about 9%. English is the main language of instruction, alongside bilingual and dual-language programs in Spanish, Indigenous languages and other community languages. The United States has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 463 in mathematics, 490 in reading and 502 in science; science was the highest-scoring core domain. Higher education includes research universities, four-year colleges, community colleges and specialized institutions. The 2025 Carnegie classifications designated 187 Research 1 institutions, while international enrollment reached 1,177,766 students in 2024/25. Current federal changes include new AI education initiatives and federal student-loan limits and repayment rules that took effect in 2026. | Indonesia has a large public/private education system in which national ministries set curriculum and standards while provincial and district authorities manage much of school delivery. The standard structure consists of six years of primary, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary education, with both general and vocational pathways. The statutory basic-education requirement remains nine years, while national policy is expanding access toward a 13-year model that includes one preschool year and education through senior secondary level. Public schools educate about two-thirds of primary and secondary students, alongside a large private and religious-school sector. Bahasa Indonesia is the main language of instruction. In PISA 2025, Indonesia scored 364 in mathematics, 365 in reading and 389 in science; OECD found no statistically clear change from 2022 in the three subjects. Higher education included 4,303 institutions and 10.75 million registered students in 2025. Current changes include deeper-learning approaches, optional Coding and AI subjects, TKA implementation and continued expansion of the 13-year education policy. |