Imagine learning that’s accessible, lifelong, and prepares everyone for a global future.

To realize this vision, Lumina Foundation works to ensure that, by 2040, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force will have a college degree or other credential of value leading to economic prosperity.

We invest in today’s students by creating clearer paths to learning beyond high school.

Lumina Foundation works in partnership with education and business leaders, civil rights organizations, policymakers, and individuals who want to reimagine how and where learning occurs.

Today's Credentials

Today's Institutions

Today's Students

Black Men in College

Roadtrip Nation is celebrating Black men’s stories—to let you know that you’re not alone on your journey and can reach your vision of personal success with guidance and resources readily available to support you.

HBCUs: Power and purpose

HBCU graduates and leaders discuss how their HBCU experiences gave them a sense of identity and belonging, and helped transform their lives through strong student support systems.

Learn more about HBCUs

Today's students are tomorrow's potential

Learn how Lumina works to help today's students get the training they need for informed citizenship and economic prosperity.

Goal 2040: A stronger nation and a brighter future

By 2040, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force will have college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.

Learn about Goal 2040

Building a stronger future: Celebrating progress in education attainment

Tracking trends in post-high school attainment

Read Courtney's blog post

Arizona school batters the barriers to student success

Four-year colleges are finding new ways to help students succeed

Read magazine: Building a better bachelor’s

The Latest

Remapping higher ed: Here’s where innovation and equity are already taking root

Some of America’s most vital engines of post-high school learning and opportunity are overlooked and underfunded. Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs) and Predominantly Black Community Colleges (PBCCs) play an outsized role in connecting people to learning, credentials, and careers, especially in communities that traditional schools have long underserved.

• Aug. 14, 2025

Four-year degrees at two-year colleges: A growing trend

Twenty-four states allow community and technical colleges to issue bachelor's degrees. Podcast guests Dr. Debra Bragg, Jim Reed, and Sunaina Virendra talk through the pros and cons and discuss recent efforts to launch new community college baccalaureate programs.

• July 31, 2025

Rethinking college: How more valuable degrees are closing America’s talent gap

Critics of higher education have a point: Average inflation-adjusted tuition has gone down, but remains too high. Degrees pay off, but too many grads struggle finding good jobs.

• July 29, 2025

Millions pressed pause on college. We can help them hit play again.

Forty-three million Americans have started college but left without earning a credential. That group, known as “some college, no credential,” or SCNC, is larger than the population of California. And it continues to grow.

• July 21, 2025

Meaningful climate action is higher ed’s responsibility

Discover how higher education serves as a catalyst for climate solutions and societal progress in this live taping of Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent podcast from the 2025 SXSW Podcast Lounge.

• July 17, 2025

Is America falling back in love with higher ed, or are we measuring the wrong things?

Something strange is happening in America: confidence in higher education is creeping back up. And not just among the usual suspects. Republicans, independents, people with and without degrees, Black and Hispanic communities. We're seeing a thaw across the board.

• July 16, 2025

‘I just never see the end of it’: real stories behind short-term credential seekers

Americans eager to gain new skills and energize their careers quickly and inexpensively are turning to increasingly popular short-term workforce programs.

• July 15, 2025

Lumina Foundation launches FutureReady States to better gauge workforce credential value

Twelve states will identify and support training policies that deliver real economic value for taxpayers and individuals.

July 10, 2025

12 states set out to define what makes a credential worth it

With growing skepticism and doubt about the value of a traditional college degree, many Americans are opting for short-term credentials that offer a quicker route to economic opportunity. But with more than a million certificate programs out there, how can students (or employers, for that matter) know which ones actually lead to better jobs and bigger paychecks?

• July 10, 2025

Why college matters: for the love of learning—And democracy

In a time of tense scrutiny of higher education, it helps to be reminded why college matters.

• June 17, 2025

May may be over, but mental health challenges on campus are far from it

Last month, during Mental Health Awareness Month, posters went up on campuses across the country, and social media hashtags trended. Now we’re in June, and the conversation begins to fade—while students' struggles do not.

• June 6, 2025

Do Americans think college is worth it?

Nearly 9 in 10 Americans that currently do not have a degree believe that earning an academic credential is valuable. And yet, there is waning confidence in higher education across the country, as many people ask if they will get a return on their investment. In this episode, we visit Lupita Trujillo, a mother of three, who shares how these decisions sounded in her household. We also review the latest Gallup-Lumina Foundation reports about perceptions of higher education with Dr. Courtney Brown.

• May 30, 2025

Fast lift or slow climb? How education moves us (or doesn’t)

We often hear that a bachelor’s degree pays off, literally, long-term, but is that always true? And how do short-term credentials like certificates and training badges really compare?

• May 13, 2025

What will make college truly affordable?

Higher ed leaders and policymakers need to fundamentally rethink the system of who pays for college, and how.

• May 13, 2025

America’s investment in education is lagging — and the workforce pays the price

America once led the world, but the global economy is evolving, and other nations are surging ahead. We must recommit to innovation and training.

• May 12, 2025

Degrees of impact: Redefining the value of higher ed

At the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis gave a LightningX keynote on increasing the value of higher education.

• May 12, 2025

A look back: State partnerships pave the way for education and training

This is a big year for Lumina Foundation: In 2025, we are marking Lumina’s 25th anniversary, looking back on our ambitious 15-year college attainment goal, and celebrating the launch of a new goal. It’s the perfect time to reflect on progress made and how Goal 2040 can help even more Americans learn and earn credentials of value.

• May 5, 2025

AI is unable to outpace higher education

This live session, taped at SXSW 2025, explores the interplay between higher education and artificial intelligence, delving into how academic institutions are responding to the proliferation of AI in the workplace and economy.

• April 29, 2025

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Creating better outcomes for students

The Nation’s Progress

The United States faces a growing need for talent. Many more people of all races, ethnicities, ages, geographies, and income levels will need college degrees, certificates, industry certifications, and other credentials to join or remain in the middle class.

A Stronger Nation

Addressing Equity in Education

Lumina focuses broadly on today's students. We must help people understand why barriers exist and how we can address them, especially for the benefit of students of color or students who are the first in their families to seek education or training after high school.

Learn more