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.
• State-Level Comparisons at a Glance—Users can immediately compare national and state-level performance to see how their region performs.
• Guided & Interactive Exploration – A narrative-driven summary mode provides key takeaways, while an explore mode allows for deep, hands-on data analysis.
• New Geographic Insights – For the first time, county and metro-level attainment data is mapped, providing a clearer picture of regional disparities.
• Better Accessibility for Policymakers & Media – High-quality image exports make it easy to integrate insights into reports, presentations, and news coverage.
5 Key Features That Elevate This Tool
1. A Smarter Way to Explore Data
Users can choose their experience: a guided narrative mode for quick takeaways or an explore mode for in-depth analysis with full control over filters and settings.
2. State & National Benchmarks in One View
A revamped state comparison tool provides a clear breakdown of post-high school attainment across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.
3. Race, Gender & Age Disparity Insights
New interactive tools allow users to dispel myths and explore detailed subgroup data—helping identify equity gaps in educational outcomes.
4. High-Quality Image Export for Reports & Media
Policymakers, journalists, and researchers can now seamlessly export data visualizations, making it easier to share insights and inform decision-making.
5. Bringing Regional Trends to Life with Maps
For the first time, county and metro attainment data is visualized on a map, offering a new level of insight into regional educational progress.
A Tool for Action
Stronger Nation is a roadmap for policymakers and educators looking to make real change. By improving accessibility, context, and interactivity, we’re helping Lumina ensure that data drives action.
To explore the new Stronger Nation, visit the redesigned tool here.