Lumina Foundation
Gallup and Lumina Foundation are committed to studying perceptions around the most pressing issues facing higher education.
Education for What?
Despite enrollment and completion rates declining and Americans' confidence in higher education falling, the economic case for earning a college degree remains solid. College graduates earn about $1 million more over the course of their working years than U.S. adults with no college degree, on average.
However, a college degree has value beyond financial gain. To date, most studies that attempt to find the value of pursuing post-high school education focus on a single outcome, like earnings or cognitive ability.
The latest study from Lumina Foundation and Gallup examines a wide range of economic and non-economic outcomes for U.S. adults across various levels of educational attainment. The Education for What? report explores the association between each additional year of higher education and a variety of work and life outcomes and the extent to which Americans believe education promotes these outcomes.
The results show that additional years of education beyond high school make for a healthier, more civic-minded individual who is more likely to interact with neighbors and family members, and to do work that aligns with their natural talents and interests.
Download the report to learn more.
Additional Work Insights
Download Past Gallup-Lumina Reports
Gallup and Lumina Foundation have partnered to measure pressing issues in education since 2012. Explore past reports to see key findings and insights.