Lumina Foundation

Community colleges aren’t backup plans—they’re bold first choices. We’ve seen firsthand how changing the story can change the outcome. When colleges invest in their brand, their students—and their communities—benefit. Take Madera Community College: With nearly 70 percent of its students identifying as Latino, Madera embraced its identity and created a real sentido de pertenencia—a sense of belonging—through campus murals, a new multicultural center, and community events that reflect and celebrate its students. Great Falls College Montana State University reintroduced itself with a new mascot (Mo the River Otter!) and a refreshed name that reconnected it to its community. And County College of Morris redesigned its website with students in mind, knowing that most people visit online before they ever set foot on campus. These aren’t just cosmetic changes. They’re helping rebuild reputation, increase enrollment, and show students that two-year colleges are strong first choices, not fallback options. Community colleges are ready to lead, and we're working to ensure our story reflects that. Read more about what worked (and what didn't) during our three-year journey to help change the stigma of community colleges:

Without quality data about how college students are faring, we cannot make good decisions. The Institute of Education Sciences, an arm of the U.S. Department of Education, improves everyone’s work. We support the Institute for Higher Education Policy's call (with the Association for Education Finance and Policy) to restore the institute and follow federal law. #highereducation #highered #federallaw

As higher ed faces heightened skepticism and greater challenges, the movement to increase the nation’s educational attainment must also ensure the value of credentials. In a town hall Q&A Wednesday on philanthropy’s role in higher education, Michelle Cooper from Lumina, Patrick Methvin from Gates Foundation, and William Moses from The Kresge Foundation discussed how the path ahead includes continuing to drive systemic change, fostering more collaboration among funders, and listening to partners on the ground. In a time of uncertainty for higher ed, philanthropy remains committed to its values of creating real opportunity for everyone. “I believe in the promise of policy, even when it’s hard. I believe in the promise of bipartisanship, even when it’s hard to see. And I think that this is a moment that calls for that,” Cooper said. #AccelerateAttainment

Higher ed must prepare people to adapt for an uncertain future, Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis said to Bipartisan Policy Center President and CEO Margaret Spellings during a conversation about reflections, lessons, and the future of the attainment movement. States play a key role in leading the movement, he said, and we must be ready when the time comes. "That's a fundamental part of this idea of higher ed as an engine of economic progress and social stability," he said. "It's about preparing people for the now and the next." They chatted in a forward-focused session at this week's event, Celebrating and Accelerating Attainment: 2025 & Beyond, spotlighting the value of data and bipartisan policy in boosting attainment. Spellings shared optimism in growing public attention and the work of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on the American Workforce, which she leads. With Jamie serving on the commission, both stressed that real solutions require bipartisan collaboration. “People are paying attention to what we do and how we do it. We're getting more attention in the public sphere than we have in a long time. That’s a real opportunity," she said. "The eyes of the world are on us." #AccelerateAttainment

So many great insights from Margaret Spellings, the 8th U.S. Secretary of Education and President of the Bipartisan Policy Center during her conversation with Lumina Foundation’s Jamie Merisotis. Some key takeaways: 🔑 The progress we’ve made in the postsecondary attainment movement is cause for celebration. Since 2008, the collective efforts of researchers, advocates, and philanthropy have supported millions of students on their #HigherEd journeys, opening doors to economic and career opportunities. 🔑 We’ve also learned a lot since 2008. While attainment remains a critical milestone, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Increasing the value of higher education is essential to creating more opportunities for students beyond the classroom and in the workforce. 🔑 The importance of #HigherEd has only grown in the past two decades, as more and more Americans recognize the centrality of education and the economic, career, and global opportunities it unlocks. Next, participants will head to breakout sessions to reflect on lessons learned and chart the next phase of the attainment movement #AccelerateAttainment #PostsecValue #CollegeCompletion

Fifteen years ago, just 38 percent of Americans held a degree or credential beyond high school. Today, that number is 55 percent—a milestone fueled by collaboration, innovation, and a shared belief in the power of education. This week, Lumina Foundation is proud to join national higher education leaders, partners, and supporters dedicated to this movement in Washington, D.C., for Celebrating and Accelerating Attainment: 2025 & Beyond to reflect on this progress and plan for what’s next: a future where, by 2040, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force will have college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity. We're gathering alongside folks from the Institute for Higher Education Policy, Trellis Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, Gates Foundation, ECMC Foundation, College Futures Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, and more for honest, transparent, and mission-critical conversations to keep the momentum going during a pivotal time for higher ed in this country. With topics like student mental health, short-term credentials, workforce partnerships, legal access, adult learners, institutional transformation, and more, we know one thing for sure: The path forward must be more inclusive, more equitable, and centered on real opportunity for every learner. The attainment acceleration movement is real—and we're honored to be part of the next chapter. #AccelerateAttainment (Photos by Lance Thurman)

More Americans than ever are earning college degrees or workforce credentials—up from 38 percent in 2008 to 55 percent today. But as job demands change, we've launched a new goal: By 2040, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force will have college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity. That means credentials that lead to good jobs, family-sustaining wages, and room to grow. It’s about opportunity, stability, and the chance to thrive. Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis spoke to WorkingNation Editor-in-Chief Ramona Schindelheim on the latest Work in Progress: A WorkingNation Podcast episode about why this matters now more than ever—and what still stands in the way. Listen now:

What happens to students when the systems designed to support them suddenly disappear? The PBS docuseries "The Class" followed a college advisor and his high school students during the 2020-21 school year as they navigated the pandemic-disrupted, uncertain world of college admissions. Actor and musician Daveed Diggs, one of the series' executive producers, said students needed to figure out how to "scrape by without people" during the COVID-19 lockdown and build a community—even though they couldn't be together in person. "Community is really important and it can go away. We take it for granted and it's already been snatched away from us once and we should be also protecting that better."

Most Americans believe college is too expensive—but still worth it. That’s the paradox at the heart of Lumina Foundation’s 2025 State of Higher Education study with Gallup. While only 18 percent of adults without degrees think four-year college costs are fair, 70 percent say a degree holds real value. They’re right—education beyond high school still opens doors to good jobs and better pay. But rising costs and outdated programs are eroding trust. It’s time for higher ed to adapt: lower costs, align with careers, and offer more flexible options. The belief in college is still strong. Now, we have to make it work.

In partnership with #Republican polling firm GS Creative Strategy, the Third Way think tank released new data on what Republican voters want for #highered, including their views on policies under consideration. The national survey of Republican voters found they view colleges favorably and see the value of higher education, support affordability measures, and want stronger guardrails to protect students and taxpayers from bad actors. Watch the video to learn more. #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #collegeaffordability #consumerprotection #higheredvalue