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

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

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

A sure bet that lost me money—and what it says about undergrad degree earners

Here’s why states betting on certificates to boost attainment might be a losing wager. A recent visit to the Santa Anita racetrack taught me a surprising lesson—not about horse racing, but about the seductive power of a “clever” idea.

• April 25, 2025

No, college students aren’t being silenced: Most feel free, heard, and at home on campus

Despite the loud and pervasive national rhetoric that college campuses are ideological battlegrounds where free speech is stifled, most students say their experience is much different.

• April 23, 2025

Whatever we call them, diversity efforts support fairness and shared prosperity

Diversity and equity initiatives are increasingly under attack in statehouses, schools, and corporations across the country. But amid this rising rhetoric, a critical misunderstanding threatens our nation’s future—one that could erode our global leadership and economic prosperity.

April 15, 2025

Healthcare finance leader brings global expertise to Lumina Foundation board

Kaye Vitug, a global healthcare and finance leader, has joined Lumina Foundation’s board of directors, which concluded its spring meeting today.

April 3, 2025

Community college isn’t a backup option: Rebranding higher ed’s underdogs

Three years ago, we at Lumina Foundation became curious about the stigma surrounding community colleges. Americans saw them as the convenient, practical choice—but as a backup to something “better” and often not the first choice for serious students.

• April 1, 2025

Higher education’s big test: Proving the value of college degrees

In response to falling public confidence, higher ed needs to deliver greater value and a clear return on investment.

• April 1, 2025

What’s a Primary Driver of U.S. Prosperity?

In this special edition, we have a conversation on how to drive economic growth, strengthen civic life, and equip individuals to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Experts from workforce, higher education and philanthropy will dive into how learning after high school cultivates a skilled workforce, fosters innovation, and improves quality of life for American communities. This show was recorded live from the podcast lounge at SXSW.

• March 31, 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