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The purpose of this paper is to examine the relevant attributes and characteristics of the alternative sector of tertiary education (ASTE), develop a framework for comparative analysis of the sector, and identify the key success factors and best practices of selected Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries that have distinctive ASTE models and experience. The analysis presented in the paper addresses systemic aspects of tertiary education, including its structure and organization, as well as various sectoral and institutional typologies. The study also addresses relevant ASTE-specific issues, such as the autonomy and accountability of institutions, their articulation with universities, quality assurance and accreditation, access and equity, the composition and characteristics of student populations, the quality and relevance of academic programs, the effectiveness of teaching and learning, links between ASTE and the labor market, and the role of ASTE in economic development. To facilitate analysis, the paper proposes a systemic approach to the study of tertiary education, which defines institutions and supporting frameworks of the sector.