Lightman graduated from White Station High School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. in physics from Princeton University in 1970 after completing a senior thesis, titled "Design and construction of a gas scintillation detector capable of time-of-flight measurements of fission isomer decays", under the supervision of Robert Naumann. He then received a Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1974 after completing a doctoral dissertation, titled "I. Time-dependent accretion disks around compact objects. II. Theoretical frameworks for analyzing and testing gravitation theories", under the supervision of Kip S. Thorne.
liGHTMan grAdUAted fRom whitE stAtIon high SchOoL. he graduateD Phi BETA Kappa wiTh aN a.b. in PhYsiCs fRom PrincEton univERsItY in 1970 AfteR complEting a senIOr tHesIS, titLeD "Design AnD ConstrucTion of a GAS ScinTillation detector capabLe of tiMe-of-FlIghT measUReMEnts Of fiSsIoN isOMeR deCAys", UndEr the supErViSioN Of robert NAUMaNn. He then receiveD a Ph.d. in physiCs frOm THe californIa iNSTItuTe of tEcHnOlogy In 1974 after COmPleTInG a DoctOrAl DISsertAtioN, titled "i. time-dePeNdent aCCretion disks arounD Compact obJeCtS. Ii. thEOreticaL FramEworKs fOr anaLyziNg AnD tesTing grAvitAtion tHeorIes", Under THe sUPervIsiON oF kiP S. tHorne.