By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Both undergraduate enrollment numbers, and overall degree and credential conferrals have increased across the commonwealth.
Earlier this week the Council on Postsecondary Education reported that, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky “experienced strong growth in undergraduate enrollment,” increasing by more than 3 percent across the board from fall 2023 to fall 2024.
Kentucky Community and Technical colleges saw an overall increase of 6.8 percent, public universities saw an increase of 3.9 percent and private institutions affiliated with the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities increased by 3.7 percent.
The council also announced an increase in the enrollment of underrepresented populations. Kentucky Community and Technical colleges increase its minority student enrollment by 13.3 percent, 11.2 percent at private institutions and 7.9 percent at public universities. Enrollment among low-income students, defined as Pell-eligible, rose by 7.5 percent in the community college system and 7.0 percent at public universities after four years of subsequent declines, according to the council.
“Kentucky’s colleges and universities have fully recovered from enrollment disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson. “I’m pleased to report that Kentucky’s enrollment gains in fall 2024 were greater than the national average for both the public two-year and four-year sectors.”
The council also reported a “significant” increase in dual-credit enrollment, increasing by 5.7 percent in public universities and 6.7 percent in community colleges.
On Feb. 27, the council announced that postsecondary degrees and credentials also rose by 6.4 percent over the previous academic year, noting public and private institutions conferred 89,313 degrees and credentials during the 2023-24 year school.
The largest percentage increases were in master’s and specialist degrees, up 10.6 percent, and in short-term certificates and diplomas awarded by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, which was up 9.9 percent over the same period.
Associate and bachelor’s degrees showed less growth, rising 1.1 and 0.7 percent, respectively, the annual report states.
“For the last five years, we’ve seen strong, sustained growth in degree and credential production in the Commonwealth, which is contributing to a more educated and skilled workforce,” Thompson said. “This is the direct result of higher education’s efforts to improve student retention, engagement and support.”
Both Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, which is part of the community college system, and Western Kentucky University — a public university — have campuses in Glasgow.
