New National Report Ranks Tennessee 43rd In US For College Attainment

College attainment is the percentage of adults between the ages of 25 and 64 holding some kind of post-secondary degree. The new report from the Lumina Foundation found that just over 32% of those adults in Tennessee hold degrees.  The national average is 38.7%. Governor Bill Haslam has set a state goal for college attainment rates of 55% by 2025.  But the Lumina report estimates that at current rates, Tennessee will reach only 39% by that time. A study last year from Georgetown University predicted that by 2018, more than half of all jobs in Tennessee (54%) will require some post-secondary education.  Williamson (61.09%), Knox (45.75%) and Davidson (42.47%) counties have the highest college attainment rates in the state.