What is often viewed as the fairly arcane business of determining and administering higher education policy is a matter of great national interest and, actually, a matter of national security. It thus makes a difference for American society in ways you may not have considered. The ability of the United States to protect itself and its interests around the world--our national security, broadly defined--depends directly on the strength of our economy, and it is clear that economic strength in the era of global competition depends on a nation's educational attainment--most importantly, the proportion of the workforce with postsecondary credentials. This article explores the connection between higher education and national well-being and security, and discusses the roles that citizenship, politicians, and educators play in shaping how the coming generation sees its role in the democracy.