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.
Three-year bachelor's degrees are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, as students search for faster and more affordable pathways into the workforce. Schools, meanwhile, are looking for new ways to educate students in the face of declining enrollments.
About 60 colleges across the United States have either adopted or are now planning to roll out three-year degree programs. Proponents say the accelerated option provides a cost-effective college education and enables students to enter the job market more quickly. Others contend the college-in-three model dilutes the traditional college experience and could potentially force students to sacrifice quality for speed.
At a time when most colleges are chasing enrollment gains to shore up finances, the University of Arizona is doing the opposite. In the fall of 2025, the first-year class shrank by nearly one-fifth—a change that leaders describe as intentional. The president and provost felt that too many freshmen were coming in unprepared. They wanted to increase the graduation rate, which is lower than that of any of Arizona’s mutual peers. And they wanted to decrease how much financial aid they doled out to students who weren’t from Arizona.
A handful of other flagships have capped growth recently to avoid overcrowding amid a surge in popularity. But Arizona’s thinking—enrolling fewer students to boost completion and cut costs—stands out.
With exorbitant sticker prices and double-digit tuition discounts, colleges have come under increased criticism about the lack of transparency about what students pay to attend their institutions. Lawmakers and prospective students are pressuring them to provide more clarity.
Brandeis University president Arthur Levine believes his institution may have a solution to address cost confusion in higher ed with its new AI-powered cost calculator.
What does the future of education and employment look like in an era defined by artificial intelligence, workplace disruption, and changing attitudes about the value of a college degree?
In this interview, Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis weighs in on some of seismic shifts reshaping higher education, workforce development, and the global economy. As part of the conversation, Merisotis also shares insights into how traditional manufacturing states like Indiana are positioning themselves for the new economy and what business and education leaders must do now to remain competitive in a technology-driven world.
Diana A., 34, woke up one morning to find she was no longer able to legally work in the United States. Diana is a decade-long recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program after she came to the United States illegally with her parents 24 years ago from Mexico. Every two years, like other DACA recipients, Diana would submit an application to renew her DACA and work permit. This year, for the first time, the approval lapsed for more than a month.
Diana hoped DACA would give her more opportunities. Now, she worries those opportunities could be taken away.
One in five undergraduates and one in four graduate students are raising children while pursuing a college credential. In many instances, student parents are navigating school, work, and child care in systems that were not built with them in mind. These pressures contribute to lower completion rates and heightened stress compared to their nonparenting peers.
The following insights from three student-parent interviews highlight common challenges and actions that policymakers and institutions can take to better support them.
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