A Stronger Nation update | Live Webinar | 3 p.m. EST Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Join us for a first look at the new Stronger Nation data. |
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Lumina set a bold goal for a better-educated country 15 years ago. It worked. | The call for millions more U.S. adults with labor market credentials sparked action. | | In 2008, when Lumina Foundation committed to at least 60 percent of U.S. adults earning college degrees and other credentials by 2025, we did something that set us apart from most national funders: We set a big, ambitious goal and then went to work. And we did so in close partnership with state and local officials, educators, industry leaders, and countless others.
New federal data from 2021 released today in A Stronger Nation show promising progress. Nearly 54 percent of adults hold college degrees, certificates, industry certifications, or other credentials.
While the effects of falling enrollment have not yet appeared, we are hopeful for more movement toward 60 percent by 2025. Regardless of whether we meet the goal within two years, the buy-in to Stronger Nation and the policies and investments it has inspired across the country contributed to an increase in the proportion of adults with education and training after high school. |
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Ten findings from the new data |
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| 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.
The nation’s attainment rate is the sum of the degree attainment rate (45.7 percent) and the attainment rate of high-value, short-term credentials (8 percent). Short-term credentials include college-level certificates (4.3 percent) and industry-recognized certifications (3.7 percent). … |
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