Based on panel data from 30 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) in China between 2003 and 2021, an investigation has been conducted on the path mechanism of the impact of quantity and quality of higher education on green technology innovation. It is found that both significantly promote green technology innovation, with their contributions being relatively comparable. However, there is a diversity in the path mechanism of the impact of the quantity and quality of higher education on green technology innovation, due to the fact that the quantity of higher education not only directly affects green technology innovation, but also affects green technology innovation quality by improving the average education level and the labor force employment. The quality of higher education promotes green technology innovation by increasing expenditures on science, technology, and education.