In October of 2021, CPE began the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative (the KYSSC) with support from the James Graham Brown Foundation. This initiative serves as a method of boosting student success and degree completion in higher education. The KYSSC was born during an important time, as Kentucky strives to boost its population of bachelor's degree holders.
Higher education is incredibly important. In Kentucky, individuals with a bachelor's degree will earn roughly $1 million more than an individual with a high school diploma. This is just one example of the ways in which holding a bachelor's degree can benefit an individual, as well as the overall economy. Other statistics back this up; for example, studies show that Kentuckians with a bachelor's degree earn a median salary of $52,000 ten years after graduation. However, Kentuckians with a high school diploma earn a median salary of $30,000 ten years after graduation. These statistics reflect the increased financial security that comes with postsecondary credentials.
Holding a bachelor's degree also increases workforce participation, which is beneficial for the larger society as well as the individual. For instance, 93% of individuals with a bachelor's degree in Kentucky participate in the workforce, as opposed to 77% of those with a high school diploma.
In order to take advantage of these benefits, Kentucky aims to have 60% of its population with a postsecondary credential in the next six years. This is where organizations like the KYSSC come in.
Kentucky has already seen progress toward its goal. Over the past five years, degree completions have increased. More specifically, there has been a 7% increase in undergraduate degrees and credentials. There has also been a 4.3 percentage point increase in the six-year graduation rate at public universities. The current degree attainment rate in Kentucky is 55%.
In addition to increasing degree completions, the completion gap has also shrunk. There has been a 26% increase in underrepresented minority (URM) student enrollment in public universities. There has also been a 34% increase in degrees and credentials going to URM students.
These trends are positive, but there is still work to be done. In fact, undergraduate enrollment is declining in key groups such as low-income learners and adult learners (down 41% and 46% respectively). In the coming years, it will be important to address enrollment decline in these groups to reach Kentucky's goal.
Luckily, groups like the KYSSC have plans for how to measurably make a difference in degree attainment. The KYSSC has 24 statewide recommendations that target improvement in three areas. These areas are: supporting student basic needs, improving transfer pathways, and increasing gateway course success.
More than half of students struggle with basic needs insecurity, which leads to higher drop out rates as students pause their education to manage basic needs. In fact, only 20% of the students who pause their education due to basic need insecurity are able to return to their education and complete their degree. Addressing this insecurity can go a long way in supporting student success.
Similarly, the quality of transfer pathways can have an impact on whether or not students end up graduating. Only 10% of students that start a transfer pathway end up finishing a bachelor's degree in six years. Supporting students in the transfer process can guide them to a degree.
Finally, the third key area is improving gateway course success. Despite the importance of gateway courses in improving retention, only one-third of students complete college-level math and English courses their first year. This results in lower retention rates between the first and second year, which decreases the effectiveness of higher education.
The KYSSC hopes that addressing these key areas will allow Kentucky to have at least 60% of its population with a bachelor's degree by 2030. Already, close to 3,000 individuals from a variety of sectors are working and learning with the KYSSC to reach this goal. Kentuckians are hopeful that progress is on the horizon.
Higher education can make a big difference for both individuals and wider society. It allows for improved financial security, with increased salaries and workforce participation. Kentucky has identified these benefits and is working to support its students in obtaining degrees by targeting a variety of key factors.
