New research, including Lumina Foundation analysis, counters the argument that college is broadly 'not worth it.' Lumina’s 'A Stronger Nation' metrics show about 44 percent of Americans hold a degree or short‑term credential that yields at least a 15 percent earnings premium over a high‑school diploma. The findings highlight that credential type and alignment with labor‑market demand remain key determinants of postsecondary payoff. Policy and institutional leaders say the evidence shifts focus from blanket skepticism to targeted choices: aligning programs to workforce needs, improving credential transparency, and expanding pathways—like short‑term credentials and transfer pathways—that demonstrably raise earnings. The data frames affordability debates around which credentials deliver measurable labor‑market returns.