A Stronger Nation
We're tracking America's progress toward the nation's 60% attainment goal.
Featured Resources
Some highlights of Lumina's work
We're sharing tools and takeaways from our efforts to create a better-educated nation.
REACH Collaborative
REACH supports community colleges in six states to embed high-quality non-degree credentials in associate degree programs.
Changing the Narrative on Student Borrowers of Color
A collection of essays from student loan experts sets the record straight on borrowing among students of color.
Community Grants
Our community grants portfolio supports local organizations in our hometown of Indianapolis and around central Indiana.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Hear stories about how HBCU's help students thrive.
Tuition Reimbursement
Meet a few of the workers and employers participating in tuition reimbursement programs.
Lumina Impact Ventures
Lumina Impact Ventures is the Foundation's impact investing arm partnering with mission-aligned social enterprises.
Local Talent Handbook
A guide for local leaders to build talent pool in their communities.
I Want That Job!
A series from WorkingNation on promising career paths for early-career workers
History of Federal Student Aid
A film series documenting the policy and the political origins of federal financial aid programs
Beyond Financial Aid
How colleges can strengthen students’ financial stability, leading to higher completion rates
State Strategy Labs
Lumina supports state leaders’ efforts to increase education levels by offering nonpartisan research, data, peer advice, and technical support.
Degree Qualification Profile
A learning-centered framework for what college graduates should know and be able to do to earn the associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Hispanic Students Feeling More Discrimination at School
Sept. 27, 2023
As Hispanic students struggled more than any other race or ethnicity to stay enrolled in post-high school education and training programs in 2022, a recent Lumina Foundation-Gallup study shows they were also more likely to feel discriminated against, harassed, disrespected, and physically and psychologically unsafe at their institutions.
Education for What?
Aug. 30, 2023
Despite enrollment and completion rates declining and Americans' confidence in higher education falling, the economic case for earning a college degree remains solid. College graduates earn about $1 million more over the course of their working years than U.S. adults with no college degree, on average.
How State Policymakers Can Respond to the Supreme Court’s Rulings on Race-Conscious Admissions
July 26, 2023
The Supreme Court's decisions on Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC represent a serious step backward in the fight for racial equity and diversity in America that will harm all students and have serious repercussions.
Advancing Equity by Rethinking the Use of Tests in College Admissions
July 25, 2023
This brief discusses the equity implications of requiring college applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score as part of their application for admission, considerations for college leaders examining test-optional polices, and ways in which test-free policies may address equity concerns related to standardized tests in college admissions. The brief concludes with recommendations for college…
Ensuring Fairness in College Admissions
July 25, 2023
This brief offers college leaders and admissions officials clear recommendations to ensure that their campus admissions are fair by rethinking recruitment strategies and demonstrated interest practices, and eliminating early decision and legacy admission.
The Urgency of Fair and Equitable Holistic Review of College Applicants
July 20, 2023
This brief is focused on holistic review, a strategy in college admissions that assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside a range of indicators that include grades, extra curriculars, environmental context, among other factors. For admissions officers and college leaders, it is a powerful tool and a fairer and more thoughtful approach to reviewing student applications…
Driving Toward a Degree 2023
July 18, 2023
Tyton Partners’ 2023 Driving Toward a Degree research publication focuses on measuring what practices, policies, and technology best support underserved racial/ethnic groups and students with financial need.
Infographic: Americans See the Value of College
July 14, 2023
Over two-thirds (78%) of Americans say completing additional education after high school helps an individual’s well-being.
How Federal Policymakers Can Respond to the Supreme Court’s Rulings on Race Conscious Admissions
July 5, 2023
The Supreme Court's decisions on Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC represent a serious step backward in the fight for racial equity and diversity in America that will harm all students and have serious repercussions.
Time for Class 2023
June 20, 2023
Digital learning has become a prominent feature of modern education, with the potential to provide personalized instruction through technology-enhanced tools, communication, design, and support services in online, hybrid, blended, and face-to-face learning environments. While digital learning tools can improve access and flexibility for underserved students, challenges exist that need to be addressed.
Influence of the Coronavirus Pandemic on High School Seniors’ Views
June 7, 2023
This report from the ACT surveys 1,549 high school students from the class of 2023 about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their college and career choices.
The State of Higher Education 2023 Report
May 4, 2023
Gallup and Lumina Foundation have partnered to better understand barriers to enrollment, why currently enrolled students may be considering leaving their programs—and what makes them stay.
Some College, No Credential (SCNC) Student Outcomes
April 21, 2023
This report shows the “some college, no credential” (SCNC) population—former students who stopped out without earning a credential—is up 3.6 percent from a year earlier while fewer SCNC students returned and completed a credential. This suggests there’s an increasingly missed opportunity for states and institutions to reengage SCNC students.
The American College President, 2023 Edition
April 12, 2023
Although the landscape surrounding higher education has changed considerably over the past year, the profiles of its leaders remain much the same. Most presidents remain older, White, and male, says this report from the American Council on Education.
Beyond an HSI Designation: Exploring Strategic Practices for HSI Grant Participation
March 21, 2023
Since 1995, the federal government has allocated funds to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to help build their institutional capacity to better serve their Latino students. However, these federal grant programs have become increasingly competitive. As a result, HSIs must strategically adapt their practices to plan effectively for grant competitions and utilize funds in a sustainable manner…
Level Up: Leveraging Explicit Value for Every Learner, Unapologetically
March 16, 2023
Decades-long data show a persistent and troubling trend in higher education: Black student enrollments in U.S. postsecondary education have been declining precipitously since 2011, particularly at community colleges.
Institutional Resilience in Puerto Rico: A First Look at Efforts by Puerto Rican HSIs
Feb. 16, 2023
Hurricanes, earthquakes, financial bankruptcy, a global pandemic. When it comes to catastrophic events, Puerto Rico has experienced them all. Yet, these challenges did not keep Puerto Rican colleges and universities from keeping their students enrolled and on track for completion.
Balancing Act: The Tradeoffs and Challenges Facing Black Students in Higher Education
Feb. 9, 2023
Many Black students in the U.S. face distinctive challenges to completing postsecondary programs. Six-year completion rates for any type of degree or certificate program are lower for Black students than for those in any other racial or ethnic group. Barriers to completion include the high financial cost of higher education and implicit and overt forms…
In Default and Left Behind
Feb. 6, 2023
Borrowers default for many reasons. They are financially insecure, their lives are complex, they struggle to navigate in systems not always designed with their needs in mind, and many have been poorly served by the U.S. Department of Education and its contractors.
Stronger Nation: Ten Findings on U.S. Educational Attainment Trends
Jan. 31, 2023
The nation’s educational attainment rate after high school in 2021 was 53.7 percent. This figure means 53.7 percent of working-age adults— those 25 to 64 years old—had earned college degrees or other credentials beyond a high school diploma that could lead to further education and better pay or jobs.