You know what never goes out of style? Higher ed that actually works for people. That means clear costs, simpler enrollment, flexible paths to a credential, and real opportunity on the other side. Very 2040 of us.

Inevitability doesn't mean AI's direction is predetermined. That's why Lumina is proud to be a founding partner of Humanity AI, which has opened a $10 million grant opportunity for community-led work across education, labor, and the economy, and the humanities, arts, and culture. Apply now:

Open Call: Help Shape the Future of AI

Open Call for Proposals: Communities Leading on AI $10M Investment in U.S.-Based Community-Led AI Initiatives Humanity AI, an initiative spearheaded [...]

lumfound.org

Nearly 800 grantmakers are standing together to defend their freedom to support lawful work. That principle connects directly to our mission. As Jamie Merisotis said, expanding access to higher ed isn't achievable in a "non-democratic context." "So, yeah, we're a democracy funder. Heck yeah."

Facing Trump crackdown, foundations form a mutual-defense pact

MacArthur and Lumina foundations help lead Unite in Advance, a network of 800 grant makers defending philanthropic freedom from government pressure.

lumfound.org

Exclusivity isn't what makes a college great. And yet, rankings have long rewarded a hoity-toity factor that's antithetical to why many people go to college. Washington Monthly's latest rankings remove the "snob appeal" and highlight institutions that create opportunity for students and communities.

A Different Kind of College Ranking

When you stop grading by snob appeal, the truly excellent ones shine. Plus, our new ranking of the best colleges for rural America.

lumfound.org

Sometimes, a trim is the best way to grow. With enrollment and resources under pressure, colleges, universities, and states have choices to make about where programs should grow, where institutions can work together, and where resources can be used most effectively.

Pruning to grow

Higher education has room to serve more people. Preserving that opportunity will require strategic choices about what each institution offers—and what they

lumfound.org

Press Forward Indiana is launching with a goal to help ensure every Hoosier has access to trustworthy local news and the information they need to participate in and shape where they live. Join tomorrow's event for a conversation about local news, strong communities, and the role philanthropy plays:

In fall 2027, Berea College will cover tuition, housing, food, and fees for every student without loans, along with resources such as laptops and health services. This shows what's possible with sustained investments and a commitment to meeting students' real needs. https://lumfound.org/4ydUCNf

Financial Aid, Financial Freedom - Berea College

At Berea, our strongest desire is to help realize the unlimited potential of our students. We proudly stand as the only college in America that exclusively admits students from limited economic resour...

lumfound.org

Mississippi is asking a tough question about short-term credentials: Do they *actually* lead to good jobs? That focus matters as the state works to fill 100K construction jobs and prepares workers for growth in advanced manufacturing, agriculture technology, maritime trades, and AI infrastructure.

FutureReady States Profile: Mississippi

"There's a lot of opportunity in the state right now and a greater expectation that these short-term credential programs can give people a real leg up for a good job."

lumfound.org

International students choose this country to learn, discover, build, and connect. They strengthen classrooms, workplaces, research labs, and communities. This reciprocal relationship is one this country has long benefited from, and we should give them every reason to keep choosing us.

Why Americans should care when international students stop coming

For decades, America has enjoyed an extraordinary competitive advantage that we rarely talk about: many of the world’s most talented people have wanted to

lumfound.org

Tennessee wants "no dead ends" for people pursuing education and training. That means making sure a short-term credential can lead to a good job today and become a building block for what comes next.

FutureReady States Profile: Tennessee

"The goal is that we have no dead ends for people pursuing education and train

lumfound.org

Connecticut is honing in on what makes a short-term credential worth it. Employers should recognize it, workers should be able to build on it, and it should lead toward a good job. It's creating clearer, more effective connections between training, credentials, and good jobs.

FutureReady States Profile: Connecticut

"We’ve been a ‘higher ed or bust’ state for a long time. But there are many good jobs across Connecticut that don’t require a four-year degree."

lumfound.org

There's no playbook for better workforce credentials, but a few lessons are surfacing: A credential should lead somewhere. A good first job matters, and so does what comes next. Local economies should shape local strategies. What matters isn't how many credentials people earn. It's where they lead.

Building better workforce credentials: lessons from 3 states

This year, I've traveled 18,000 miles visiting 12 states across the country to learn how education and business leaders are strengthening the connection

lumfound.org

The simplistic "college isn't worth it" narrative doesn't match their choices or the economic evidence. Part of the story gets lost in big-picture data, especially if people enroll and leave before finishing. Prove the narrative false by ensuring that people enroll, finish, and earn credentials.

The College Backlash Is a Mirage

Americans are more pessimistic than ever about the value of a degree—but enrollment keeps going up.

theatlantic.com

“We’ve had a long history of saying, ‘Yeah, college isn’t for you,’ through our policies and our practices and our attitudes,” Lumina’s Kermit Kaleba said. It’s time to design a system that says something different about short-term credentials. https://lumfound.org/3TuEZ58

The state of short-term credentials

The demand for short-term credential programs is growing, and state leaders are responding. In 2025, a total of $8.1 billion was spent across 34 states to

lumfound.org

Some of the most promising ideas in higher education are already out there. They just need the opportunity to grow. If your organization is building new approaches that reduce barriers and improve outcomes, we encourage you to apply: https://lumfound.org/3TBwdCk

Not everyone needs to go to college, but everyone should know if they can. Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis shows how direct admission flips the equation. When students have already shown they're ready, colleges should be the ones saying "yes," not asking students to prove they belong.

The "I know a guy" insider-knowledge mindset should be reserved for finding a car mechanic, not for identifying the right education or training program. Yet, that's the reality for many prospective students. https://lumfound.org/4yIRvy1

America's learning opportunities shouldn't be this hard to find

“Where can I learn to fix boat engines?” my teenage son asked one day.

lumfound.org

For years, colleges could count on their reputation as a proxy for value, but now? People are rightfully asking for evidence that education is affordable and that it’ll prepare students for work. This is a healthy shift. https://lumfound.org/4wZq80I

Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard.

For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational h...

lumfound.org

Advisors change lives. But they're often buried in paperwork instead of spending their time doing the work only people can do. Less time in bureaucracy = more time to help students stay on track and reach their goals. https://lumfound.org/4fp6bJB

The broad learning that helps students build communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills is just as important as preparation for a specific career. https://www.ccdaily.com/2026/07/gen-ed-is-where-the-american-dream-gets-built/

Gen ed is where the American Dream gets built

For generations, higher education has been central to the promise of a stable career, a picket fence and 2.5 dependents. It has been a pathway to opportunity and upward mobility. But for today's students, especially the students at Saint Paul College i...

ccdaily.com

The proportion of Americans who have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education has slipped to 38% – down four percentage points from 42% last year, a survey by @luminafoundation.bsky.social and @gallup.com shows. bit.ly/3TBYWqp

The course schedule shouldn't be a barrier to graduation. 🎓 We're expanding our Student-Centered Course Scheduling initiative to 12 more institutions, with support from @luminafoundation.bsky.social, @gatesfoundation.bsky.social, and Ad Astra. More: tinyurl.com/5n73rma2 #HigherEd #StudentSuccess

College begins with whether students can see a path forward. The Postsecondary Admissions Redesign Toolkit offers lessons from states and institutions working to make admissions more transparent and simpler. It's a resource for leaders to remove barriers rather than expect students to navigate them.

It's encouraging to see that people still believe education can change lives, but confidence is dipping as the public rightfully expects colleges and universities to demonstrate that the investment will pay off. https://lumfound.org/4h9Qtob

Americans haven’t given up on higher ed. They’re asking more of it.

Every year, Gallup's survey on confidence in higher education generates a familiar headline: Americans are losing faith in colleges and universities.

lumfound.org

Less time spent on paperwork means more time spent supporting students and keeping them on track to earn credentials that lead to opportunity. We're proud to support EdVisorly as it grows. https://lumfound.org/4f2wDKp

EdVisorly Raises $13.3M Series A Funding

EdVisorly, a Los Angeles, CA-based provider of an educational technology (EdTech) platform for colleges and universities, raised $13.3M in Series A funding

lumfound.org

After nearly a decade helping shape Workforce Pell, Lumina's Katie Berger and Kermit Kaleba explain why the real work is just beginning, and why the choices we make now will determine whether it transforms opportunity or simply becomes another funding program. Listen to the episode:

Workforce Pell and the changes it brings

Workforce Pell takes effect on July 1 this year. The expansion of the entitlement program opens access to many more Americans seeking high-quality, short-term training programs that lead to in-demand jobs.

lumfound.org

Do credentials actually lead to opportunity? Join us on July 23 for a conversation on how states are defining and redefining credentials of value. If you're helping shape the future of education and workforce policy, this is one you won't want to miss. https://lumfound.org/4vhMUQo

How FutureReady States are defining--and redefining--credentials of value

Lumina webinar on how leaders from Connecticut, Mississippi, and North Carolina are defining and redefining credentials of value

lumfound.org

This episode of The New York Times "The Daily" on the future of student lending is a hard indicator that the cost of college has become a defining public issue, not just a personal finance one. How do we build a system where students don't have to rely on excessive debt in the first place?

Why Americans Will Get Less Help Paying for College

With new limits on federal lending, many students will need private loans and some could be shut out.

lumfound.org

Lumina's Jasmine Haywood, Ph.D., will moderate a discussion at the Global Black Economic Forum during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture exploring how HBCUs, employers, and cross-sector partnerships can create stronger pathways to economic opportunity. https://gbef.com/events

Adults haven't given up on education. Many are still looking for ways to build new skills, change careers, or finish a credential they started years ago. The interest and ambition are there, but what's often standing in the way are the realities of everyday life.

Adults want to go back to school. We should make it easier.

If millions of adults say they want more education or training, why aren’t more of them enrolling?

lumfound.org