Education Attainment Levels for the States
Why is the educational attainment rate important to Lumina Foundation's mission?
The United States is likely to face an unprecedented shortage of college-educated workers by 2020. The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems estimates the need to educate nearly 800,000 more college graduates each year from now through 2025 to compete with top-performing nations. Lumina's goal is to increase the higher education attainment rate of the United States to 60 percent by the year 2025. We must work harder—and faster—to educate enough college graduates for the country to sustain the vitality of its local communities and the economy. Learn more
How can focusing on adults with some college credits help states increase college attainment rates?
Focusing on students with some college can help ensure that local economies have a skilled labor pool that meets existing and emerging workforce needs. Some states are already pursuing this strategy. Lumina is supporting a project with three states to identify their “ready adult” population – those adults who are close to having enough credits to obtain a degree but have not yet returned to college. Other states see this strategy as an opportunity for growth in the college-attainment rate and are making inroads with adult learners who are eager to complete their degree. Learn more.
Find out how your state is doing.
See a degree completion overview chart or see detailed state data below:
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- Research Basics
- State Data
- What We Know About Adult Learners
- Research Advisory Committee
- Camino a la Universidad
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