We remove barriers to learning after high school.

Lumina Foundation works with education and business leaders, civil rights organizations, policymakers, and regular people to understand who today’s students are, what kind of learning they need, and where they can receive it.

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 Educational Barriers

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 from low-income families, both urban and rural, students of color, and those who are first in their families to pursue education or training after high school.

Learn more

University of Wisconsin's Direct Admit program offers early admission to high school juniors

Eiziah Lieblein, incoming freshman at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee dreams big, thanks in part to securing an early spot at UW.

Read Eiziah's story

Redesign can help take some of the stress away from students

The Great Admissions Redesign shifts the college-applying experience by showing students where they're eligible, telling them they're college material, and holding a place for them. That kind of clarity builds confidence and turns intention into action.

Great Admissions Redesign 2.0

AI Will Make Human Work Better

By bringing the broadest coalition of philanthropic supporters together, Humanity AI aims to drive three levers to influence the present and future of AI.

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

Employers still want the degree

Despite skills-based hiring shifts and the rise of AI, employers still value college degrees For years, the future of work has seemed to be pointing away from the college degree. Companies have dropped degree requirements from job postings. States and employers have embraced skills-based hiring. Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape entry-level work. And recent […]

• Oct. 20, 2026

The best colleges aren’t always the most famous

Washington Monthly’s rankings look beyond prestige to ask which colleges serve students well, keep costs manageable, and create opportunity.

• Oct. 8, 2026

Three years after the end of race-conscious admissions

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in SFFA v. Harvard that race-conscious admissions policies violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The decision had an immediate impact on how colleges and universities determine who gets into their institutions. Three years after the ruling, researchers and […]

• Sept. 23, 2026

Pruning to grow

Higher education has room to serve more people. Preserving that opportunity will require strategic choices about what each institution offers—and what they can offer collaboratively. A healthy tree does not grow by keeping every branch. In an environment of finite sunlight, water, and nutrients, unchecked growth can weaken the whole. Thoughtful pruning directs resources toward […]

• Sept. 3, 2026

Why Americans should care when international students stop coming

For decades, America has enjoyed an extraordinary competitive advantage that we rarely talk about: many of the world’s most talented people have wanted to study here. We have gotten so accustomed to this advantage that we seem to assume it will always exist. It won’t, and the warning signs are beginning to flash. International graduate […]

• Aug. 27, 2026

Building better workforce credentials: lessons from 3 states

This year, I’ve traveled 18,000 miles visiting 12 states across the country to learn how education and business leaders are strengthening the connection between learning and work. As employers struggle to find skilled workers and learners seek faster, more affordable pathways to good jobs, policymakers are refining what it means for a credential to have […]

• Aug. 26, 2026

The state of short-term credentials

The demand for short-term credential programs is growing, and state leaders are responding. In 2025, a total of $8.1 billion was spent across 34 states to help students and institutions deliver high-quality, short-term education and training programs. This growing state investment, combined with Workforce Pell, has states contending with new issues: How will states approve […]

• Aug. 4, 2026

Why is applying to college so complicated? How to simplify it

Not everyone has to go to college, but everyone should know if they could. Across the country, thousands of students are finding out about their college options without having to apply. They’re already in, based on how they do in high school. Direct admission programs are clearing the way to college, instead of hoping students […]

• Aug. 3, 2026

See All News

Student Stories

Explore all stories

Communities grow when people do.

We remove barriers to learning after high school.

Creating better outcomes for students

The Nation’s Progress

Addressing Educational Barriers

University of Wisconsin's Direct Admit program offers early admission to high school juniors

Redesign can help take some of the stress away from students

AI Will Make Human Work Better

Black Men in College

HBCUs: Power and purpose

Today's students are tomorrow's potential

Goal 2040: A stronger nation and a brighter future

Building a stronger future: Celebrating progress in education attainment

Arizona school batters the barriers to student success

The Latest

Employers still want the degree

The best colleges aren’t always the most famous

Three years after the end of race-conscious admissions

Student Stories

Video: He says his future holds ‘something big.’

Video: Now she knows, “The world believes in me.”

Early acceptance often kindles college conﬁdence and excitement

Proactive program makes sense—and can save students’ dollars.

‘Meeting students where they are’ can help them go further.

In college admissions, the direct approach may aid students AND schools.

President’s message

What are you looking for?

Communities grow when people do.

We remove barriers to learning after high school.

Creating better outcomes for students

The Nation’s Progress

Addressing Educational Barriers

University of Wisconsin's Direct Admit program offers early admission to high school juniors

Redesign can help take some of the stress away from students

AI Will Make Human Work Better

Black Men in College

HBCUs: Power and purpose

Today's students are tomorrow's potential

Goal 2040: A stronger nation and a brighter future

Building a stronger future: Celebrating progress in education attainment

Arizona school batters the barriers to student success

The Latest

Student Stories

Video: He says his future holds ‘something big.’

Video: Now she knows, “The world believes in me.”

Early acceptance often kindles college conﬁdence and excitement

Proactive program makes sense—and can save students’ dollars.

‘Meeting students where they are’ can help them go further.

In college admissions, the direct approach may aid students AND schools.

President’s message

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