Education Colleges Universities Benefits Benchmarks

Real plan data from verified employers in your industry

Live Data
141Employers
396Plans
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Education Colleges Universities Employee Benefits Overview

Medical plan benchmarks from verified employer data

Live Data

Medical benefits typically represent the largest share of employer benefit spending and are a key factor in employee recruitment and retention.

Our database includes 141 education colleges universities employers offering 396 verified benefit plans. HDHP plans are the most common (40% of employers), followed by PPO (38%). Funding approaches are mixed, with fully-insured (56%) and self-insured (40%) both common. Most employers offer three or more plan options to employees (54%).

Medical plan benchmarks include deductibles, copays, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximums, and employer contribution rates.

141 employers396 verified plansUpdated February 2026

Plan Type Mix

LIVE
HDHP40%
PPO38%
HMO11%
POS6%

Plan Funding

LIVE
Fully-Insured56%
Self-Insured40%
Level-Funded4%

Plans Offered

LIVE
Three or More Plans54%
Two Plans33%
One Plan13%
In-Network Benefits
LimitedBalancedRobust
Your Plan
Individual Deductible
$644
$1,825
$2,744
$1,82552Bal
Family Deductible
$1,648
$4,142
$5,880
$4,14252Bal
Individual OOP Max
$3,371
$5,014
$6,373
$5,01452Bal
Family OOP Max
$7,434
$11,027
$12,976
$11,02752Bal
Coinsurance
10%
23%
28%
23%52Bal
Primary Care
$23
$37
$50
$3752Bal
Specialist
$41
$56
$74
$5652Bal
Emergency Room
$185
$277
$435
$27752Bal
Urgent Care
$52
$82
$95
$8252Bal

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Also Included in Report
Employee Contributions
Monthly employee premium contributions by tier
Gross Premium Rates
Total monthly premium costs by coverage tier
Prescription Drug Coverage
Rx copays, deductibles, and mail-order options
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Our reports reveal exactly where your plan stands—and why. Preview using sample education colleges universities data.

72
Balanced
Sample Report
Sample PPO Gold 1500
Blue Cross Blue Shield · PPO

This plan aligns well with common market practices. Benefits and costs are competitive, providing reliable value that meets typical employer offerings in your segment.

Based on 847 comparable plans
Core Scoring Drivers
In-Network Cost Sharing78Robust

Deductibles and copays rank above market median, offering strong value to employees.

Employee Contributions65Balanced

Contribution levels are competitive with peer employers in your industry.

Premium Rates71Balanced

Gross premiums align with market expectations for comparable coverage.

Plan Types
PPO
42%
HDHP
31%
HMO
18%
POS
9%

% of employers

Plans Offered
2 Plans
38%
3 Plans
29%
1 Plan
22%
4+ Plans
11%

% of employers

Funding Types
Fully Insured: 58%
Self-Funded: 34%
Level-Funded: 8%
Top Performers

Features in top 25% of peers

Individual Deductible82Robust
In-Network Cost Sharing
Primary Care Copay79Robust
In-Network Cost Sharing
Generic Rx Copay77Robust
Prescription Drugs
Individual OOP Max76Robust
In-Network Cost Sharing
Under Performers

Features in bottom 25% of peers

Family Premium18Low
Gross Premium Rates
EE+Spouse Contribution21Low
Employee Contributions
Specialist Copay24Low
In-Network Cost Sharing
Actionable Insight

Family Premium ranks in the 18th percentile. Adjusting employer contribution strategy could improve retention without significant cost increases.

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Education Colleges Universities Benefits Landscape

Industry trends and benchmarking considerations

Higher education institutions traditionally offer comprehensive benefits as part of total compensation, partially offsetting lower base salaries compared to private sector alternatives. Our benchmarking data shows universities typically provide multiple plan options with competitive employer contributions. Many participate in state systems or consortiums that influence plan design.

Key Trends

Multiple Plan Options

Colleges and universities in our database commonly offer three or more medical plan options, often including HMO options more prevalent than in private sector.

Higher Employer Contributions

Educational institutions typically show above-average employer contribution rates, reflecting benefits as a key recruitment tool.

Public vs Private Variation

Public universities often participate in state employee health plans, while private institutions have more flexibility in plan design.

Benchmarking Considerations

Higher education benefits vary significantly between public and private institutions. State university systems may have standardized benefits with limited flexibility. Consider institution type when evaluating benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Rx-Carve Out Benefits
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