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

To realize this vision, Lumina Foundation works to ensure 60 percent of adults will have a college degree, certificate, industry certification, or other credential of value by 2025.

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.

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Today's Credentials Today's Institutions Today's Students

Georgia college transforms itself to fit today’s students

Georgia women’s college sheds the white gloves, grabs diversity with both hands

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Growing a new crop of environmental scientists to meet a global challenge

Tuskegee University’s agricultural past is fertile ground for a greener future

Century College solar energy program brightens students’ career prospects

Solar energy program shows students the light … and the money.

A desk job wasn’t for her, but she’s found success in a construction careers program.

Building things, fixing things, creating with her hands—that was the sort of work Catiana had in mind.

After a rough start, he turned things around with training for a high-demand industry.

Jack earned his GED, took college courses, and then earned his commercial driver’s license—and the route to a good job.

Inside out: Community colleges far and wide

Lumina's Million Dollar Community College Challenge team is shining a spotlight on the great work of community colleges around the world.

California students' journeys documented in Today's College Climb photoessay

Lumina Foundation teamed up with documentary photographer Rachel Bujalski to capture a candid, close-up look at the lives of five students. Learn more about the barriers today’s students encounter.

The Latest

We can’t ignore a crisis of confidence in American higher education

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: American higher education is failing millions of people, and the cracks grow deeper by the day.

• Oct. 4, 2024

Let’s tap the real power of college alumni

Football games, open houses, booths selling swag—it’s fall homecoming season on college campuses, and your alma mater is eager to show off its athletic accomplishments, its new energy-efficient buildings, and its innovative academic programs. A goal of these perennial pep rallies, of course, is to raise money—the hope being that alums will be sufficiently moved by the old school spirit to open their wallets wide.

• Sept. 24, 2024

Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis on #WeeklyWisdom

In this episode of the Innovating Together podcast, Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance and Sara Custer, Editor-In-Chief of Inside Higher Ed are joined by Lumina President and CEO, Jamie Merisotis.

• Sept. 24, 2024

I found out the hard way that family income alone doesn’t predict college financial aid needs

I found out the hard way that family income doesn’t predict a student’s college financial aid needs. As a first-generation college student, navigating the college financial aid system was very challenging. From the technical jargon to the tedious forms, I heavily relied on my mother, who previously sought student aid for herself and my older brother. Ultimately, I began my college career at the University of Georgia through a combination of federal, state, and private financial aid.

• Sept. 19, 2024

A shifting landscape: reflecting on higher ed’s role in democracy, citizenship, and our overall prosperity

Higher education and workforce leaders from more than 30 states gathered this week in Baltimore to explore national trends related to education and training after high school, equitable public financing and individual benefits, and the value and purpose of colleges and universities in American society.

• Sept. 13, 2024

Everyone counts: Colleges, companies, and communities must work together to build greater higher ed value

Given that higher education is all about developing critical thinking skills and challenging assumptions, educators should welcome the increasingly tough questions about the value of college degrees.

• Aug. 19, 2024

Redesigning College Admissions

Colleges and universities are facing a demographic shift now dubbed the “enrollment cliff.” Concerns over a decline in the number of traditional age students has led some institutions to rethink admissions processes.

• Aug. 13, 2024

For college students—and for higher ed itself—AI is a required course

Some of the nation’s biggest tech companies have announced efforts to reskill people to avoid job losses caused by artificial intelligence, even as they work to perfect the technology that could eliminate millions of those jobs.

• July 23, 2024

What we can learn from these North Carolina’s HBCUs: Insights to support Black adult learners

North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) built a distinguished history of serving adult learners with a clear, caring focus on students’ needs—and now they are leading the way for others to follow.

• July 17, 2024

Lumina Foundation recognizes community college excellence with mini-grant awards

Lumina Foundation has selected the winners of its mini-grant opportunity through its first-ever Instagram challenge.

July 17, 2024

Crisis of confidence in U.S. higher education: A call for renewed focus and reform

This country is in a crisis of confidence in our higher education system.

• July 8, 2024

Respect and skepticism collide when it comes to how we view college

Students are deeply concerned about college costs and the availability of jobs—but even so, more people than ever are interested in higher education. That’s the news from Gallup’s State of Higher Education 2024 report—and the fact that both those can be true says a lot about higher education in these turbulent times.

• July 1, 2024

Community colleges have a terrific story to tell. Here’s how to showcase their strengths.

Flexible. Supportive. Innovative. Effective. Community colleges are all of these things as they prepare millions of students for in-demand jobs.

• June 27, 2024

Podcast: The Dismantling of DEI Efforts

States across the country have proposed or enacted legislation that hampers or eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on college campuses. These efforts range from removing diversity statements from job posting to outright elimination of student support services. Erin Gretzinger and Maggie Hicks from the Chronicle of Higher Education gives us a national overview and Veronica Selzler from Hattaway Communications talks about a new toolkit designed to help bridge the communications gap.

• June 25, 2024

41.9 million college journeys abandoned contribute to a national crisis

We’re facing a stark educational crisis: 41.9 million people in this country have attempted to earn a college degree or credential but left without one. This represents not only a colossal loss of potential for the individuals involved and the nation's economy, which is increasingly dependent on a skilled workforce.

• June 20, 2024

Help is available—but many college students don’t ask for it. Read on for solutions.

Not long ago, a college student said in a focus group that they’d rather fail a class than ask a professor for help. Many students in the group nodded in agreement—and they have plenty of company among students who say they’re reluctant to seek help, often until it’s too late.

• June 17, 2024

Don’t let the ‘woke’ narrative blind us to higher ed’s contributions

This could be a challenging year for the 4 million or so people just graduating from college: While the National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that most employers say they will maintain or increase hiring, sizeable job cuts elsewhere mean an overall decrease in hiring.

• June 10, 2024

More than ever, student borrowers need support.

Student loan borrowers are confused and frustrated. They are juggling a host of financial obligations and navigating a complex repayment system with rapidly shifting rules.

• May 28, 2024

See All News

Creating more just outcomes for students

The nation’s progress

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

A Stronger Nation

Talking about race

To achieve justice for people who are Black, Hispanic, Latino, and Native American through increased learning, we must help people understand why that’s important, what systemic barriers exist, and how we can make a difference.

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