Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
One day after entering office in January, President Trump signed an executive order that banned what his administration deemed as "discriminatory" diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the federal government. The president then promised to "restore merit-based opportunity."
The administration's first mention of merit would soon become a buzzword in and out of higher education. But what merit is—and how exactly it should be used—remains a contentious topic in education circles.
All the elements were there Tuesday for a contentious meeting of the federal panel that oversees college accreditation: a deadlocked vote for chair, lobbying by U.S. Department of Education officials, and a former Heritage Foundation researcher ultimately getting the nod.
But by the end, members mostly avoided partisan conflict and even found some things to agree on.
Higher education has built a system where too many students pay more than they can afford for opportunities they can’t count on. That’s not sustainable for families, and it’s not sustainable for a country that depends on talent.
If we can align affordability, value, and trust, we can once again make higher education the engine of upward mobility. If we don’t, the cost won’t just be money—it will be our shared future, writes Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis in his latest column for Forbes.
Throughout California, Career Technical Education, or CTE, has never been more popular. More than 26 percent of students completed a pathway in 2025, up from 18 percent in 2018.
Shifting attitudes about the value of college and concerns that students are not leaving high school with marketable skills have led to districts’ heightened focus on career education, including a push into elementary grades.
As the year comes to a close, reporter and podcaster Ashley Mowreader walks through some of the biggest trends in student success, including generative artificial intelligence tools, mental health resources, affordability in higher education, and the power of internships.
Mowreader also speculates about what higher education might expect in 2026—and how a shifting federal landscape will affect schools and students.
For many high school seniors, getting accepted into college is one of the most exciting moments of their lives. Millions of teens nationwide are now preparing for that feeling as they face the college admissions process for the first time.
What are colleges doing to get more students admitted and enrolled? And what do students and families need to know about how the college admissions process has changed recently? Admission experts and others weigh in.
.jpg?upscale=true&width=500&upscale=true&name=istockphoto-2189485109-612x612%20(1).jpg)
.jpg?upscale=true&width=500&upscale=true&name=istockphoto-1413161076-612x612%20(1).jpg)
