(LANSING) - More Michigan residents are earning college degrees and workforce credentials, but the state continues to lag behind most of the country, according to a new national report.
Data from the Lumina Foundation shows 51.6 percent of Michigan residents ages 25 to 64 held a postsecondary credential in 2024. That includes certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and graduate or professional degrees. The figure is up from 49.1 percent in 2019, when state leaders set a goal of reaching 60 percent attainment by 2030.
Despite the improvement, Michigan ranked 39th nationally in educational attainment in 2024, down from 37th five years earlier. The rankings compare all 50 states along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Education leaders say the numbers show progress, but also growing competition. Officials with Michigan's public universities say other states are improving at a faster pace, keeping Michigan near the bottom of national rankings.
State officials point to recent investments aimed at boosting enrollment and completion, including Michigan Reconnect, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the Community College Guarantee. The Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential reports Michigan Reconnect has increased adult community college enrollment by 38 percent.
Michigan's overall attainment rate remains below the national average of 54.8 percent. Only Washtenaw and Oakland counties exceeded the state's 60 percent goal, while several northern and rural counties posted rates below 25 percent.
The report also highlights racial and ethnic gaps in educational attainment and introduces a newer measure tracking "credentials of value," defined as degrees or certificates linked to earnings at least 15 percent higher than the national median for high school graduates. Michigan ranked 32nd nationally under that metric.
Lumina officials say the data is intended to help states measure whether education is translating into economic opportunity for residents.