Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper
The Indianapolis-based foundation said the collaborative will unite education, business, civic, nonprofit and policy leaders from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. Each state will define what constitutes a valuable credential and update its attainment goal to reflect the needs of residents and the state's economy.
The initiative comes as more than 20 states face expiring attainment goals this year and higher education confronts mounting scrutiny over affordability and career outcomes.
Currently, 55 percent of working-age adults have college degrees or short-term credentials, according to the most recent data. That represents a 16-percentage-point increase from 2008, when Lumina introduced the nation's first national attainment goal. Colorado, Massachusetts and Utah have surpassed the 60 percent threshold.
Forty-nine states have set state-specific attainment goals since the initial effort began, shifting focus from college access to degree completion and drawing attention to adult learners, community colleges and disparities across income, race, ethnicity and geography.
"Setting clear goals for increasing degrees and workforce credentials demonstrates a state's commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening its economy," said Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, Lumina's vice president for public policy. "Through formal collaboration, states can refine goals, share lessons, and ensure they center on value for individuals, communities, and employers."
Dr. Patrick Crane, Lumina's strategy director for state policy, said state leaders are questioning next steps as the 2025 goal approaches. "The collaborative will give states a space to highlight progress and reckon with the challenges ahead," he said.
