Florida has made tremendous strides toward its goal of 60% postsecondary attainment since 2019, under the guidance of the SAIL to 60 Initiative and the direction provided by Governor DeSantis, first outlined in Executive Order 19-31. Many objectives outlined by the Legislature and the Governor have been achieved, and Florida should indeed celebrate the milestones we have reached.
But while Florida’s pace has quickened, and competitor states have been surpassed, we haven’t crossed the finish line yet. The 2030 goal of 60% postsecondary attainment among Floridians aged 25-64 remains ahead of us. Here’s where things currently stand.
Florida’s postsecondary attainment rate increased from 54.7% to 54.8% between 2023 and 2024, placing the state 26th among the 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This value has two components: degree attainment and credential attainment. While degree attainment rose from 46.8% to 47.4%, credential attainment fell from 7.9% to 7.4%. The downward shift in credential attainment reflects a methodological change by the Lumina Foundation — credentials must now qualify as a “Credential of Value,” meaning median earnings for holders must be at least 15% greater than the national high school graduate median.
By 2031, 64% of all Florida jobs will require an education beyond high school, and for the top high-demand careers — those with strong growth prospects that also pay at or above the median wage — the share approaches 100%. This is why so many organizations, including Local College Access Networks, focus on the overall attainment rate as their north star goal. The future of individuals and their local economies depend upon it.
It’s why FCAN supports communities working to increase postsecondary attainment with data and research — like our county-by-county attainment profiles. It’s why FCAN leads statewide efforts toward the 2030 goal enshrined in the Florida 2030 Blueprint. And it’s why FCAN will collaborate with partners to develop a 2040 attainment goal in the coming years.
Because postsecondary education changes the trajectory of lives, and economies.
Explore the latest attainment data across Florida HERE.
Note: State-by-state postsecondary attainment rankings are released each year in the Lumina Foundation’s Stronger Nation report, which uses the most recent U.S Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data and Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce credential estimates to calculate the share of residents aged 25-64 holding a degree or high-value credential.