BATON ROUGE, La. – As a result of the tremendous progress made in higher education and partnerships strengthened over the past six years, Louisiana’s educational attainment rate has grown for the fourth consecutive year. The Board of Regents shared the latest data and positive trends as part of its Master Plan Year 6 update on Wednesday during the September Board meeting.
This year’s educational attainment rate of 52.5% is more than a full percentage point higher than the previous record high set in 2024 and has grown 4.5% since 2019. This translates to a six-year increase of 350,000 more people holding a credential, enough new graduates to fill LSU’s Tiger Stadium three times.
A new record of 80,000 graduates earned credentials in Louisiana in 2025, just 5,000 annual completers short of our 2030 goal of 85,000. According to an LA FIRST report, these graduates will, on average, have significantly higher salaries than peers with only a high school diploma.
Since 2019, Louisiana’s postsecondary education community has united around the state’s Master Plan goal: 60% of working-age adults holding a credential of value by 2030. Together, we have boosted attainment, broadened education and training at all levels, supported student success, and aligned institutions’ offerings with workforce demands.
“Six years ago, we charted an intentional course to drive our talent imperative through quality, affordable postsecondary education for all,” said Board Chair Misti S. Cordell. “Today, we are on track to exceed our big goal set in 2019, but we are not slowing down. In tandem with Governor Landry and the legislature as well as our workforce and K-12 partners, we will continue strengthening the education-to-employment pipeline to prepare Louisiana for the next generation.”
The goal for Louisiana is to more than double the number of credentials earned annually by focusing on increasing high school early college participation rates and improving overall student success, as well as increasing education and training for adults. Ultimately, the emphasis on producing credentials of value is designed to build Louisiana’s workforce participation rate while demonstrating a strong return on the state’s investment.
“Our relentless focus on the Louisiana Prospers goal has been the catalyst for the steady increase in Louisiana’s educational attainment rate,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed. “Building on the success of the last few years, we want to keep that ‘meauxmentum’ going with more stadiums fill of Louisiana student success stories.”
Leaders from across the state and the country, including Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois, are lauding Louisiana’s latest educational attainment rate success.
“Louisiana’s economy is only as strong as the talent that powers it,” said Secretary Bourgeois. “Closing the gap between the skills our industries demand and the credentials our people hold is one of the most important steps we can take to position Louisiana to win. The progress made toward the Louisiana Prospers goal shows what is possible when higher education, workforce and economic development move in alignment.”
In other Board action, the FY 2025-2026 operating budgets for Regents, LUMCON, LOSFA, and the four public postsecondary systems were approved. The Board also approved the annual performance evaluation of Commissioner Reed.
The Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education in Louisiana was launched in August 2019. The state’s educational attainment level then was 44.2%. Each year’s annual report can be viewed at www.laregents.edu/masterplan.
The next Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, in Monroe on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
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Contact
Chris Yandle, Ph.D., APR, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications
chris.yandle@laregents.edu • 985-373-5845