Progress toward Kentucky's Statewide Strategic Agenda Goals: An Annual Report of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. 2025 Progress Report

Abstract

This report shows how Kentucky and its campuses are faring on key performance indicators associated with the statewide strategic agenda for postsecondary education. Additionally, the report highlights activities the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is leading to advance their key priorities: (1) affordability; (2) transitions; (3) success; (4) talent; and (5) value. Positive outcomes from the 2023-24 academic year include undergraduate enrollment growth remaining strong at the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) and public universities, with an overall enrollment rise at 3.9%, while KCTCS enrollment climbed 6.8%. The number of underrepresented minority students enrolled in postsecondary education grew by 13.3% at KCTCS and 7.9% at public universities, narrowing the gap in college going between minority and majority students. KCTCS increased credential production by 7.5% overall. Certificates and degrees awarded to underrepresented minority students were up 16.5%, and credentials awarded to low-income students were up 5.7%. Public universities increased graduate degree production by 1.4% and graduation rates rose by 1.3 percentage points at public universities and 3 percentage points at KCTCS. Even though Kentucky lost ground on two higher education affordability metrics, they continue to close in on their educational attainment goal of 60% of Kentucky's working-age adults to have a postsecondary credential by the year 2030.