Colorado Ranks High in Degrees, But Fewer Credentials Pay Off

New report shows many Coloradans have degrees, but only half lead to higher earnings.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:21pm

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An abstract, dreamlike scene of blurred, warm-toned lifestyle imagery captured through a rain-streaked window, conceptually representing the complex relationship between education and economic outcomes.As Colorado works to align its robust higher education system with workforce needs, the state must ensure more residents earn credentials that deliver clear economic value.Telluride Today

Colorado is one of the most highly educated states in the country, with about 64% of adults having a post-secondary credential. However, the latest data shows that just over half of those degrees and certificates actually deliver strong economic gains, defined as 15% higher median earnings than a high school graduate. While Colorado ranks third nationally in the share of adults with 'credentials of value,' the state still faces challenges in ensuring all pathways - including shorter-term certificates and associate degrees - lead to good jobs and higher incomes.

Why it matters

This report highlights a growing policy focus on not just increasing overall educational attainment, but ensuring those credentials translate into clear economic benefits for individuals and the state. As Colorado aims to have 75% of working adults hold a degree or credential of value by 2040, policymakers will need to align certificate and associate programs with high-demand industries and improve transparency around earnings outcomes.

The details

The Lumina Foundation's annual 'A Stronger Nation' report found that while 64.3% of Colorado adults ages 25-64 have a post-secondary credential, only 57.7% hold a 'credential of value' that leads to at least 15% higher median earnings than a high school graduate. This gap highlights that not all degrees and certificates are equally valuable in the job market. Colorado's strong performance is driven by high bachelor's and graduate degree attainment, but shorter-term credentials do not consistently meet the earnings benchmark, especially in fields outside the state's 'Top Jobs' sectors like healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing.

  • The latest data analyzed in the report is from 2024.
  • Lumina has set a national goal that 75% of working-age adults will hold a degree or credential of value by 2040.

The players

Lumina Foundation

A nonprofit organization focused on increasing post-secondary attainment and ensuring credentials lead to economic prosperity.

Courtney Brown

Vice president at the Lumina Foundation and an author of the 'A Stronger Nation' report.

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What they’re saying

“We define value as economic prosperity, that a person with that degree or credential is going to make 15% more than someone with just a high school degree.”

— Courtney Brown, Vice President, Lumina Foundation

What’s next

Policymakers and higher education leaders in Colorado will need to focus on aligning certificate and associate degree programs with high-demand industries, improving transparency around earnings outcomes by major, and ensuring low-income students and communities of color have access to high-value educational pathways.

The takeaway

While Colorado is a national leader in overall educational attainment, the state faces the challenge of ensuring more of those degrees and credentials translate into clear economic gains for individuals and the broader workforce. Addressing this 'value gap' will be crucial as Colorado works toward its goal of 75% of working adults holding a degree or credential of value by 2040.