2024 Lumina-Gallup State of Higher Education Study

In the fall of 2023, Gallup surveyed 6,015 currently enrolled students, 5,012 U.S. adults who were previously enrolled in an education program after high school but had not completed a degree, and 3,005 adults who had never enrolled in higher education on behalf of Lumina Foundation. The surveys were conducted via a web-based survey using an opt-in panel. Results from the 2024 Lumina-Gallup State of Higher Education Study indicate:

• Black and Hispanic students were more likely than their White peers to consider leaving their program in the past six months.
• The reasons currently enrolled students gave for considering leaving their program (the most important being emotional stress, mental health and cost) are consistent across racial/ethnic groups.
• About six in 10 Black and Hispanic unenrolled U.S. adults report they have considered enrolling in a program in the past two years.
• Certificate and associate programs are most attractive to unenrolled Black and Hispanic Americans.
• Financial aid/Scholarships are the most important tool to attracting unenrolled Black and Hispanic adults and are more important than to their White peers.