By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The Council on Postsecondary Education announced that total degrees awarded by Kentucky public and private institutions increased by 6.4 percent during the 2023-24 academic year.
A driver of this rise was the 9.9 percent increase in undergraduate certificates and the 9.4 percent increase in graduate degrees, according to the 25-page report. The report also included data on credentials and degrees awarded to underrepresented students “calling attention to efforts to close achievement gaps between select student populations.”
Undergraduate degrees and credentials awarded to low-income students were up 4.1 percent, while undergraduate awards to minority students were up 7.9 percent.
“Across the board, Kentucky is seeing strong improvement in degree and credential production, a reflection of higher education’s efforts to bolster completion through enhanced student supports and other initiatives,” said Aaron Thompson, council president. “Bachelor’s degree production is the only area that didn’t see a substantial increase, rising 0.7 percent.”
During the 2023-24 academic year, Southcentral Community and Technical College reported a graduation rate of 43.1 percent and the U.S. News and World Report stated Western Kentucky University had a 4-year rate of 42 percent.
