Why does education matter so much to health? While it’s known that education leads to better jobs and higher incomes, research also shows that better-educated individuals live longer, healthier lives than those with less education, and their children are more likely to thrive. Yet changing demographic trends and rising college costs threaten the future of education in the United States, which may impact how long people live and how healthy people feel while alive. This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation issue brief examines the strong connections between education and health.