[Infographic] Aiming for Academic and Economic Heights in Kentucky

Higher education can change lives, improve financial security, and open new opportunities. In fact, over the course of a lifetime, Kentuckians who hold a bachelor’s degree earn roughly $1 million more than Kentuckians with a high school diploma. This is a big difference, and points to the utility of supporting students in higher education.

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Kentucky has made this a goal and has pledged to have 60% of the state population carry a bachelor’s degree in 2030. This goal hopes to boost the state’s economy and workforce through the dissemination of bachelor’s degrees.

In order to achieve this goal, certain organizations have sprung up. The CPE launched the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative (KYSSC) with support from the James Graham Brown Foundation. The goal of the KYSSC is to aid students in academic pursuits and degree attainment.

Kentucky has already seen progress toward its goal. The current degree attainment rate is 55%, and there has been a 7% increase in undergraduate degrees and credentials over the past five years. Additionally, the completion gap is shrinking as more underrepresented minority students earn degrees.

Of course, challenges still exist. Kentucky continues to lag behind the national average when it comes to degree attainment, and low-income learners and adult learners have undergone declining undergraduate enrollment.

Despite these challenges, Kentuckians remain positive and engaged in meeting the 2030 goal. 2,963 stakeholders from a variety of sectors are working with the KYSSC to support students. The KYSSC provides education and statewide recommendations for improvement, focusing on certain key areas, such as supporting students with basic needs, improving transfer pathways, and improving gateway courses.

The KYSSC is a good example of a state working to meet a goal. The KYSSC was born in 2021 and has already made progress, aiding students in reaching new academic heights. In the next few years, Kentucky aims to support students and benefit its economy with a new wave of bachelor’s degree holders.