Earning a bachelor’s degree has distinct benefits ranging from increased future earnings to workforce participation. Kentucky is a state that is taking advantage of these benefits, aiming to increase its population with a postsecondary degree to 60% in the hopes of improving the overall economy. However, there are challenges to this goal. Undergraduate enrollment has declined over the past ten years, and Kentucky is below the national average when it comes to bachelor’s degree attainment.
In order to combat falling enrollment, Kentucky has seen the creation of organizations like the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, or KYSSC. KYSSC focuses on creating a community, with 2,963 Kentuckians involved in the organization in some capacity, and also provides opportunities to learn from experts.
Boosting baccalaureate degree attainment requires several factors, all of which KYSSC emphasizes. These factors include supporting student basic needs, improving transfer pathways, and increasing gateway course success. A focus on each of these areas has a marked difference on student success, and acts as a step toward meeting Kentucky’s goal of the value of education.
Infographic by: cpe.ky.gov
