The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) has been tracking progress toward the “Big Goal,” a pledge initially adopted in 2011 for 60 percent of working-age adults to hold a degree or certificate by 2025.

An annual update was provided to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education during its December 9 meeting.

A news release says Missouri’s colleges and universities are making significant progress toward achieving the Big Goal, by increasing completions and graduation rates. Minority graduation rates have also improved statewide over the past five years.

In 2019, 52.8 percent of Missourians held a certificate or degree. The percentage of Missourians with an associate degree or higher increased slightly, from 40.6 percent in 2018 to 41.0 percent in 2019.

Minority completions at public and comprehensive independent institutions were up 22.4 percent from 2013-14 through 2018-19 and 2.9 percent from academic years 2017-18 to 2018-19.