America’s investment in education is lagging — and the workforce pays the price
America once led the world, but the global economy is evolving, and other nations are surging ahead. We must recommit to innovation and training.
A Stronger Nation data tool
How can the nation reach 75% attainment among people ages 25-64 by 2040?
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Stronger Nation news
Degrees of impact: Redefining the value of higher ed
At the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis gave a LightningX keynote on increasing the value of higher education.
A bold vision for a prosperous future
Seventeen years ago, Lumina Foundation set an ambitious goal: By 2025, 60 percent of working-age adults in the United States would have a degree, certificate, or industry-recognized certification. At the time, only 38 percent had one. Today, that number has risen to 55 percent, thanks to the dedication of students, educators, and policymakers who believe in the power of education and training beyond high school.
Yes, the country’s people are better trained and educated as we begin 2025
But our collective efforts must keep evolving until learning after high school prepares graduates to thrive economically.
Reflecting on 15 years: We are a Stronger Nation
Today, nearly 55 percent of working-age adults in the United States hold a degree or credential beyond high school—a milestone highlighted in the most recent 2023 data from A Stronger Nation, Lumina Foundation’s annual “report card” tracking educational progress.
A Stronger Nation, Year After Year
Recently released data on Lumina’s Stronger Nation tool shows that the national education attainment rate has reached 54.3 percent. The country has increased in education attainment by 16 percentage points since 2008. Courtney Brown and Chris Mullin of Lumina Foundation share the stories, insights, and considerations under these banner numbers.
The nation faces an urgent and growing need for talent. To meet that need, many more people must earn college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications, and other high-quality credentials. That’s why Lumina Foundation focuses on an ambitious goal for education attainment. We want to ensure that, by 2040, a system exists that is easy to navigate and has helped 75 percent of Americans earn credentials that prepare them for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.