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.

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The Latest

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 […]

A hidden student success strategy? Rethink course scheduling.

A student’s course schedule is one of the most consequential (and often overlooked) factors shaping whether they stay on track for their degree or credential. Yet the path to earning a degree or credential remains unnecessarily difficult for far too many students. Beyond juggling work, family, financial, and academic demands, they can also encounter barriers […]

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