Overview
- The baseline counts labor-force adults ages 25–64 who both hold a post–high school credential and earn at least 15% more than the median high school graduate.
- Lumina set a 2040 target for 75% of working-age adults to hold credentials that meet this earnings test and will report progress annually through its public data tool.
- Economic payoff varies by credential: about 80% of graduate and 70% of bachelor’s degree holders clear the benchmark, compared with roughly 54–55% for associate degrees and certifications.
- State results differ sharply, with the District of Columbia at 67.7%, Massachusetts at 52.5%, and Colorado at 51.7%, versus West Virginia at 34.6%, Nevada at 33.6%, and Puerto Rico at 25.7%.
- Lumina says the findings should spur stronger alignment between education programs and employer demand, and it announced a public webinar featuring Steve Kornacki to spotlight the new data.