Watch Merisotis talk more about the importance of post-high school degrees: 

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“Our economic future as a country depends on people with higher levels of skills, particularly post-high school education,” Merisotis said. With two-thirds of the jobs created today requiring some form of post-high school education, and only about 38 percent of Americans hold a two or four-year degree. “There’s a significant gap to get to that goal that we have for the workforce,” he said.

People with higher degrees are unemployed at lower levels, earn significantly more income, plus, our global competitors are already educating their citizens at higher levels than the U.S., he said. But there are social and cultural reasons for higher education, as well, such as the need for moral and ethical people who can act globally, and better participation in democracy.

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“All of that comes from a post-high school and college education,” Merisotis added.

The Lumina Foundation is the nation’s largest foundation dedicated exclusively to increasing students’ access to and success in postsecondary education. It’s mission is defined by Goal 2025 – to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025.

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Watch Jamie Merisotis, president of The Lumina Foundation, talk about whether college is for everyone: 

WATCH: ‘Our Economic Future’ Depends on Education

“It has a lot to do with other issues in our society – that is equity of population and the quality of education that we get out of our colleges and universities,” Merisotis said. “Equity matters because our fastest growing populations are those who are the least well-served in our educational system. So our future workers – our future citizens in our country – are those with the least opportunity.”

But the quality of education is important, as well, too, he added. “That credential has to have meaning, it has to have value,” Merisotis said. “We’ve got to demonstrate that students can think critically, can problem-solve, can be analytical, and can actually do something with their degree.

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“Those are things that employers say they need.”

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