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.