55,000 Degrees

The decade-long 55,000 Degrees initiative has ended, but the work to increase postsecondary attainment and economic opportunity in Louisville goes on.

Let’s continue to support the many organizations and individuals working to bring equitable, affordable education to ALL in Louisville, and to create pathways for success in career and life. Thank you to our partners, our funders and our community for 10 years of collective action. Together, we can - and DID - make progress!

As executive director Mary Gwen Wheeler said in her parting op-ed: “We are what we need, Louisville. We are the answer. Let’s get to work.”
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Evolve502 15,000 Degrees Jefferson County Public Schools Mayor Greg Fischer Jefferson Community & Technical College University of Louisville Spalding University Simmons College of Kentucky Sullivan University Indiana University Southeast Ivy Tech Community College-SellersburgMetro United WayLouisville Urban League, Inc.Greater Louisville Inc.- The Metro Chamber of CommerceGreater Louisville Project

"Looking to the future, the ripple effects of 55K’s collective work position Louisville for the courageous conversations required to change policy and practice and to better align resources in this next decade."
Read today's Forum in Courier Journal to read our partners thoughts as 55K sunsets its 10-year initiative and Louisville looks at what's next in education.
Evolve502 KentuckianaWorks Greater Louisville Project Mayor Greg Fischer
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Louisville Forum, Opinions, Letters | Courier-Journal Louisville editorials, columns and reader commentaries from the Courier-Journal

Our partnership is sunsetting but the momentum must carry on. Read thoughts on 55K's 10-year initiative and what's next in education and workforce from our own executive director, Mary Gwen Wheeler and Evolve502, KentuckianaWorks and Microsoft's Future of Work initiative.

Want a more educated Louisville? Here's your call to action The 10-year goal of the 55,000 Degrees partnership was for 50% of Louisville’s working-age population to have an associate degree or higher by 2020.

As we approach a new year, our resolve must be to increase efforts to communicate the value of higher ed, especially as enrollments are trending downward. We've got to separate the "necessity of college" from the "college experience" and reinforce the message .

“When I became mayor...I said there were going to be three primary values that were going to guide us as a city: compassion, health and lifelong learning,” Fischer said at yesterday's virtual summit. “And over the last 10 years there is no organization or effort that better represents all three of those values coming together than what's happened here in 55,000 Degrees.”
Read more about our final report and summit in Louisville Business First

55,000 Degrees final report: What it learned about education in Louisville - Louisville Business First A 28-page final report from the organization identified four high-level lessons learned since its 2010 inception.

Our 10-year partnership to increase postsecondary attainment in has come to an end. How did we do? What's next? Read all in our final report. 👇
https://bit.ly/3gnEsub
Higher Ed Insight

The 55,000 Degrees Commencement & Virtual Summit kicks off at 10 a.m. Who's joining us?
We're excited to share findings, hear your ideas and listen to keynote speaker Dr. Andre Perry. See you soon!

When 55,000 Degrees started in 2010, 38 percent of the working-age population had a college degree. Today, that number is at 46 percent.
How did our city make gains in postsecondary education? What work still remains? How can we do better in the next decade and beyond? As we close out our 10-year initiative, we need your voice! Join the conversation at the 55K Virtual Summit Monday, Dec. 7.
Register today at

55K Commencement & Virtual Summit About the Event: Join us for an interactive convening as 55,000 Degrees closes out its 10-year initiative. We'll celebrate progress, discuss findings from Higher Education Insight's...

CPE report shows significant headway toward state 60×30 attainment goals Kentucky colleges and universities continued to make substantial progress toward the state’s educational attainment goals in 2019-20, exceeding targets for both STEM+H degrees and degrees among und…

The 55,000 Degrees Commencement & Virtual Summit is just 5 days away! Don't forget to register at

55K Commencement & Virtual Summit About the Event: Join us for an interactive convening as 55,000 Degrees closes out its 10-year initiative. We'll celebrate progress, discuss findings from Higher Education Insight's...