For over a decade, Lumina Foundation has tracked the nation’s progress in post-high school educational attainment, providing key insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates. Their goal has always been clear: increasing education access and ensuring credentials lead to real economic opportunities.
Now, they’re taking that mission a step further.
The latest Stronger Nation update introduces a bold new framework: Credentials of Value. The update goes beyond tracking degrees— it’s about measuring impact.
A New Way to Measure Educational Success
What makes a credential valuable? It’s not just about obtaining a degree; rather, it’s about whether that credential translates into economic mobility.
That’s why Lumina is shifting focus from attainment alone to attainment + earnings outcomes. Their new Credentials of Value metric measures how many Americans hold a credential and earn at least 15% above the median wage of a high school graduate.
The goal? 75% of the U.S. labor force holding a credential of value by 2040. Right now, that number stands at 44.1%.
To support this shift, Lumina needed a data visualization tool that made this vision clear, accessible, and actionable.
Bringing Clarity to Complex Data
We worked with Lumina to reimagine Stronger Nation, making it easier than ever for state policymakers, researchers, and the media to explore where progress is happening and where work remains.
• A Clearer, More Engaging Story – Credentials of Value takes center stage, with an introduction that explains the goal, methodology, and national progress up front.
