A new OECD report has revealed New Zealand university fees are among the highest in the world.

According to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Education at a Glance report, New Zealand tuition fees rank seventh highest out of 34 member countries.

Entrants into New Zealand universities pay more than $3600 a year on average, the New Zealand Herald has reported.

United States universities top the list, with students paying more than $7300 a year.

Korea, the United Kingdom and Japan fill out the top four.

Tertiary Education Union president Dr Sandra Grey said the Kiwi rates indicate a push and pull between the state and students contributing to fees.

"This is the trade-off between how much we feel students should contribute to their own education and how much we're prepared as taxpayers and as a Government to put into those institutions," she told the NZ Herald.

The report also shows New Zealand has the fourth highest entry levels into universities or tertiary education institutes with a vocational orientation.

"We've had a big push in New Zealand for what is loosely called a mass tertiary market model which is the right of open entry so people do, if they want, have the opportunity to study," said Dr Grey.