Higher Education Progress and Challenges

It’s time for a new look at Kentucky postsecondary developments. The 2023 Progress report recently released by CPE (the Council for Postsecondary Education) shows:

• A 4% increase in attainment for workforce-age Kentuckians, on track for Kentucky’s 60×30 attainment goal
• An 11% decrease in undergraduate enrollment, threatening continued attainment growth
• A 10% gain in undergraduate credentials awarded by KCTCS (the Kentucky Community and Technical College System)
• A 3% loss in undergraduate degrees awarded Kentucky’s public universities
• Rising enrollment and attainment for students from underrepresented minority groups
• Falling enrollment and attainment for low-income students

The discussion that follows will add detail on each of these trends.

Rising Attainment

In 2021, 54.3% of Kentucky residents ages 25-64 held postsecondary credentials, including certificates, certifications, associates and bachelor degrees, and graduate/professional degrees. That puts us on a good track for CPE’s ambitious goal: 60% postsecondary attainment among Kentuckians ages 25-64 by the year 2030. This is a bright spot to celebrate.

Declining Enrollment

Fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment in Kentucky public universities and KCTCS was 11% lower than Fall 2016. That’s a major storm cloud threatening our ability to keep up the attainment progress noted above. It’s a trend to see, study, and work to change.

Growing KCTCS Undergraduate Degrees & Credentials

The Kentucky Community and Technical College system has delivered important growth over the last five years. Notice that the extra attainment during the peak years of the pandemic. Continuing this trend can be a very good thing for our commonwealth.

Declining University Undergraduate Degrees

Public universities matching the KCTCS growth, with 2021-22 degrees and credentials clearly below 2016-2017 levels. Kentucky will need to recognize, study, and change this pattern.

Good and Bad News on Serving All Students

In Kentucky’s efforts to build postsecondary programs that welcome and empower all our residents, we’re seeing progress for underrepresented minority students and pretty much the opposite for low-income students.

A Concluding Note

A big bold future for Kentucky will require a skilled workforce and well-prepared citizens, including rising numbers with degrees and credentials beyond the high school. Looking right at these trends, celebrating the good news and confronting the challenges is the right path forward.