Postsecondary completion is the true gateway to opportunity. Earning a degree, credential or certification from college, training or apprenticeship programs delivers tangible returns for individuals and communities. Whether through two- or four-year degrees, CTE or industry-recognized certifications, finishing the path one starts is what unlocks economic mobility and long-term stability.

Research shows completion dramatically boosts lifetime earnings and job security. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that associate degree holders earn about $400,000 more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma, while bachelor’s degree holders earn $1.2 million more. Those who start but do not finish often carry debt without the income gains to repay it. Completion also improves job stability and access to benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings and paid leave — key ingredients for economic resilience.

The StriveTogether Outcomes Playbook: Postsecondary Completion is a comprehensive guide to the latest research and best practices for this outcome, made possible by support from the Gates Foundation. Communities can use the playbook to identify local needs, prioritize areas for collective action and improve strategies.

What Does Postsecondary Completion Mean?

Postsecondary completion refers to students successfully earning a degree, certificate or credential — marking the culmination of their educational pathway and preparation for the workforce. It is measured by the number of certificates, associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded annually across the state’s postsecondary system, as well as the rate at which students complete these programs within a set timeframe. These metrics are disaggregated by key factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, income (Pell Grant status), age, attendance status, transfer status and discipline to ensure a clear understanding of who is completing programs and where gaps persist.

Completion also encompasses how efficiently students reach the finish line — tracking average time and credits to degree, as well as transfer rates from two-year to four-year institutions. Together, these measures provide a comprehensive picture of how well a state’s postsecondary system supports all learners, including adults, part-time and first-generation students, in earning credentials that lead to meaningful economic and career outcomes.

How to Use the Postsecondary Completion Playbook

Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework is the inspiration behind the playbook’s organization and content. The playbook provides research-based guidance to help community leaders:

• Identify priorities
• Track key indicators to measure community-level progress
• Design strategies with stakeholders
• Build collective support for investments in postsecondary completion

How the Postsecondary Completion Playbook Complements Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework

The playbook supplements the Education-to-Workforce Framework by incorporating research on early childhood reading development, strategies for improving high school graduation rates, the need for high-quality, trained representative educators and more. 87% of the indicators, practices and policies (45 out of 52) included in the Postsecondary Completion Playbook come from the Education-to-Workforce Framework.