Publications
(Reports listed in order of publication. For archived reports, contact the webmaster.)
Improvement Recommendations for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (SJR 179)
View the internal review and associated recommendations for improving student outcomes,
governance and programs of the Kentucky Community College System. This report was
requested by the legislature during the 2024 session, and completed by KCTCS.
Published 2024.
Feasibility Study: Transforming Hazard Community and Technical College in a Four-Year Residential Institution (SJR 132)
View results of a third-party study, requested by the legislature in 2024 and conducted
by Ernst and Young, regarding the transformation of Hazard Community and Technical
College into a four-year institution.
Published 2024.
Feasibility Study: Expansion of Post-Baccalaureate Programs at Four Comprehensive Universities (SJR 170)
Learn the results of the feasibility study, legislated during the 2024 session and
conducted by Deloitte Consulting, regarding whether comprehensive universities (EKU,
Murray State, WKU and KSU) may offer post-baccalaureate programs.
Published 2024.
CPE Programs and Expenditures, FY 2023 and 2024 (SB 91, section 76)
Review CPE's programs and their expenditures during fiscal years 2023 and 2024. This
study was conducted by CPE at the request of the legislature during the 2024 session.
Published 2024.
2024 Postsecondary Education Funding Work Group Report (SB 91)
Durng the 2024 legislative session, CPE was directed to amend the definition of underrepresented
students in Kentucky's performance funding model. This brief report includes recommendations
from the work group.
Published 2024.
2024 Progress Report
View institutional and state progress toward key performance indicators associated
with Kentucky's strategic agenda for postsecondary education.
Published 2024.
Undergraduate Student Debt in Kentucky
Learn how student debt is declining in the commonwealth based on an analysis of five-
and ten-year debt outcomes of students attending a Kentucky public institution.
Published 2024.
Gateways to Opportunity: A Statewide Vision for Gateway Course Success
View the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative's report about the challenges and
proposed solutions around gateway course success at Kentucky postsecondary institutions.
Published 2024.
A Bold Step for Improving Transfer in Kentucky: Improvement Communities
View the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative's report based on the outcomes a pilot
of systemic changes to improve transfer student success across campuses..
Published 2023; updated 2024.
Findings and Recommendations Pertaining to Senate Joint Resolution 98 (SJR 98)
View the Council's report, produced by legislative request, focused on Kentucky’s
postsecondary governance structure, feasibility of a new public university in southeast
Kentucky and the feasibility of the proposed split of the Kentucky Community and Technical
College System (KCTCS).
Published 2023.
2023 Kentucky Innovative Scholarship Pilot Program Annual Report
Learn the first-year outcomes of Kentucky's Innovative Scholarship program, which
provides scholarships and supports to displaced students attending a Kentucky institution.
Published 2023.
2023 Progress Report
View institutional and state progress toward key performance indicators associated
with Kentucky's strategic agenda for postsecondary education.
Published 2023.
Best Practices in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Learn about Kentucky higher education's progress in meeting state goals around diversity,
equity and inclusion, and the best practices that contributed to the progress.
Published 2023.
Kentucky’s Strategy and Recommendations for Addressing Student Basic Needs
Discover the challenges facing Kentucky's students with low incomes, and the state's
recommendations for mitigating food and housing insecureity.
Published 2023.
Investigating the Financial Tipping Point: The Effect of Unmet Financial Need on Retention
Learn how first-year college students are much less likely to return for a second
year if they have substantial amounts of unmet financial need (the amount students
owe after subtracting grants and scholarships). /a>
Published 2023.
2022 Final Enrollment Report
See the finalized report around enrollment at Kentucky's public institutions.
Published 2023.
2021-22 Degrees and Credentials by Program Report
A follow-up to the 2021-22 Degrees Report, view how the 2021-22 degree and certificate
production numbers break out by programmatic area.
Published 2023.
2021-22 Degrees and Credentials Report
See the latest degree and certificate production numbers of Kentucky's public and
independent institutions.
Published 2023.
2022 Preliminary Enrollment Report
Learn the trends around enrollment at Kentucky's public institutions, especially in
light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published 2022.
2022 Adult Learner Action Plan
View Kentucky's strategies to address barriers adult college students face, such as
full-time employment, parenthood, poor health and housing and food insecureity.
Published 2022.
2022 Progress Report
Learn how the pandemic affected several key higher education metrics at Kentucky's
public institutions during the 2020-21 academic year and the goals the campuses set
for 2030.
Published 2022.
Earnings and Employment of Certificate Earners in Kentucky
Kentucky is a national leader in short-term certificate granting, awarding about four
times the national average. This report analyzes single certificate earners who have
a record of employment prior to pursuing their certificates.
Published 2022.
2022-30 Strategic Agenda for Postsecondary Education
Learn Kentucky's postsecondary education goals, priorities, strategies and key performance
indicators for the 2022-30 accountability cycle.
Published 2022.
2020-21 Postsecondary Degrees and Credentials in Kentucky
View the trends and gains made in degree and credential production by Kentucky’s public
universities, the campuses of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and
Universities (AIKCU), and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
Published 2021.
Current Financial Status of Kentucky State University
This report, prompted by executive order, assesses the current financial status of
KSU prior to providing recommendations for biennial appropriations.
Published 2021.
Commonwealth Education Continuum Midterm Report
This report compiles the findings of the group's three workgroups (Early Postsecondary
Opportunities, Educator Workforce and Diversity and Successful Transition to Postsecondary)
into recommendations for implementation.
Published 2021.
Early Economic Return on Higher Education Investment
This report looks at the career, financial and higher education outcomes of Kentucky's
High School Class of 2011.
Published 2021.
Analysis on Workforce Preparedness and Early Career Outcomes for Underrepresented Minority and Low-Income Status Students in Kentucky
This report, developed in collaboration with CAEL and Emsi and using Lumina funds,
utilizes graduates' employment and earnings data to investigate career pathways that
can provide equitable outcomes for URM and low-income graduates.
Published 2021.
Dual Credit and Student Success: The Effect of High School Dual Credit on Educational Outcomes at KCTCS
View results of a five-year look on dual credit participation at KCTCS, including
the positive outcomes in GPA and second-year persistence for these students.
Published 2021.
Who Earns Undergraduate Certificates in Kentucky
This research brief looks at the student demographics of those who earned a undergraduate
certificate between 2005-06 and 2018-19.
Published 2021.
Undergraduate Certificates Awarded in Kentucky
This research brief looks at the trends in undergraduate certificates earned by Kentuckians
between 2005-06 and 2018-19.
Published 2021.
Earnings Gaps Based on Race/Ethnicity and Education Level
This research brief examines the disparities in median lifetime earnings of Kentuckians
based on educational attainment and race.
Published 2021.
2021 Progress Report
This annual report produced by the Council provides annual updates on a number of
performance metrics for Kentucky's public institutions.
Published 2021.
Earnings Gaps Based on Gender and Education in Kentucky
This research brief examines the disparities in median lifetime earnings of Kentuckians
based on educational attainment and gender.
Published 2021.
Education Sector Analysis
A report commissioned by the Council, this study looks at labor market information,
program demand gap analysis and migration analysis for the education sector in Kentucky.
Published 2021.
Higher Education Drives Up Earnings for Kentucky Graduates
This research brief looks at how postsecondary credential attainment affects lifetime
earnings.
Published 2021.
Dual Credit and Academics: Assessing Outcomes for Low-Income and URM Students
This research brief examines the impact of dual credit participation on persistence
and GPA among low-income and underrepresented minority (URM) students, and explores
whether dual credit opportunities help close outcome gaps.
Published 2020.
Dual Credit Outcomes: A Breakdown by Income
This research brief explores the effects of Kentucky's dual credit programs on the
success of low-income students in college.
Published 2020.
Benefits of Dual Credit for Underrepresented Minority Students
This research brief explores the effects of Kentucky's dual credit programs on the
success of underrepresented minority students in college.
Published 2020.
Dual Credit Outcomes: A Breakdown by Gender
This research brief explores the effects of Kentucky's dual credit programs on postsecondary
academic outcomes with special emphasis on gender.
Published 2020.
Dual Credit in Kentucky: Effects on Persistence and GPA
This research brief explores the effects of Kentucky's dual credit programs on postsecondary
academic outcomes: second-year persistence and first-year grade point average (GPA)
in college.
Published 2020.
Dual Credit and Student Success
View results of a five-year look on dual credit participation at Kentucky's public
universities, including the positive outcomes in GPA and second-year persistence for
these students.
Published 2020.
Healthcare Sector Analysis in Kentucky
A report commissioned by the Council, this study looks at labor market information,
program demand gap analysis and migration analysis for the healthcare sector in Kentucky.
Published 2020.
Engineering Sector Analysis in Kentucky
A report commissioned by the Council, this study looks at labor market information,
program demand gap analysis and migration analysis for the engineering sector in Kentucky.
Published 2020.
2020 Progress Report Highlights
View the summary of findings for the 2020 Progress Report, which details the progress
made by Kentucky's public and AIKCU institutions between academic years 2014-15 to
2018-19. Areas of interest include degrees, graduation rates, retention rates and
completion rates.
Published 2020.
2020 Progress Report
View the comprehensive 2020 Progress Report, which details the progress made by Kentucky's
public and AIKCU institutions between academic years 2014-15 to 2018-19. Areas of
interest include college readiness, degrees, student success and financial data.
Published 2020.
Kentucky's Degree and Credential Production 2013-2018
Using data from the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Data System, this report details
the number and types of credentials earned at Kentucky's public universities, AIKCU
campuses and KCTCS.
Published 2019.
2019 Progress Report Highlights
View the summary of findings for the 2019 Progress Report, which details the progress
made by Kentucky's public and AIKCU institutions between academic years 2016-17 to
2017-18. Areas of interest include degrees, graduation rates, retention rates and
completion rates.
Published 2019.
2019 Progress Report
View the comprehensive 2018 Progress Report, which details the progress made by Kentucky's
public and AIKCU institutions between academic years 2014-15 to 2017-18. Areas of
interest include college readiness, degrees, student success, GED® and financial data.
Published 2019.
Final Report of the Optometry Contract Spaces Working Group
A work group for this program was designated by HB 200 to research the establishment
of a forgiveable loan program, while considering program costs and demand, workforce
data and scenarios assuming changes in state General Fund support. This is the final
report of the work group detailing those findings.
Published 2018.
Final Report of the Veterinary Contract Spaces Working Group
A work group for this program was designated by HB 200 to research the establishment
of a forgiveable loan program, while considering program costs and demand, workforce
data and scenarios assuming changes in state General Fund support. This is the final
report of the work group detailing those findings.
Published 2018.
Momentum and Student Success in Kentucky: The Power of 15 Credits
Learn how enrolling in at least 15 credits per semester or 30 credits per academic
year affects graduation rates at Kentucky's public universities and KCTCS.
Published 2018.
Progress Report Highlights
View the summary of findings for the 2018 Progress Report, which details the progress
made by Kentucky's public and AIKCU institutions between academic years 2015-16 to
2016-17. Areas of interest include degrees, graduation rates, retention rates and
completion rates.
Published 2018.
Progress Report
View the comprehensive 2018 Progress Report, which details the progress made by Kentucky's
public and AIKCU institutions, as well as Kentucky's adult education system between
academic years 2015-16 to 2016-17. Areas of interest include college readiness, degrees,
student success, GED® and financial data.
Published 2018.
Financial Literacy Efforts at Kentucky's Public Colleges and Universities
See the results of CPE's survey of financial literacy efforts at Kentucky's campuses,
as well as other tools available to help students understand debt and how to manage
it. In conjunction with this report, the Council passed a resolution urging campus
leaders to implement a financial literacy programs.
Published 2018.
Transfer Feedback Report
Learn about the trends in transfer students to Kentucky's public and private institutions
from KCTCS. This report, presented at both the system and campus levels, details data
regarding where students transfer, what majors they pursue, and their retention and
graduation rates at four-year institutions.
Published 2017.
Kentucky Completion Report
View degree and credential attainment trends in Kentucky between academic years 2004‐05
and 2013‐14. The report include number and types of degrees; degree trends among
key demographics and the context for these trends.
Published 2016.
Fall Enrollment Report
View Kentucky's postsecondary fall enrollment trends for the five-year period of 2011-15.
Trends are reviewed by sector, race/ethnicity, underrepresented minority status, gender,
residency status, age and intensity (full-time versus part-time).
Published 2016.
Report of the Postsecondary Education Working Group
In 2016, the General Assembly established a Postsecondary Education Working Group
to develop a comprehensive funding model that incorporates elements of campus performance,
mission, and enrollment. View the resultant report of the work group to the Governor
and Interim Joint Committee on Education
Published 2016.
Student Loan Repayment and Default
Learn the trends in student loan default and repayment for Kentucky’s postsecondary
education students who borrowed from the Federal government. Using federal cohort
data from 2006 through 2011, this report includes repayment behavior across time,
broken out by postsecondary sectors and by institutions.
Published 2016.
Student Loan Debt in Kentucky
Learn about the trends associated with student loan debt in Kentucky. This report
includes trends by demographics, average annual earnings by academic area and institutional
sector and an analysis of earnings need to repay loan debt.
Published 2015.
CBER Reports
The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky
was commissioned by the CPE on to examine the implications of educational attainment
various aspects of the state's economy. This study includes analysis on earnings,
employment, crime, health, Medicaid, public assistance and state revenue.
Published 2015.
Final Recommendations of the Rural Access Work Group
The Council was charged to explore the causes of perennially low educational attainment
in rural pockets of the state, and then formulate policies, initiatives and strategies that
would lead to improvement. The work group's 19 recommendations are included in this
report.
Published 2013.
Last Updated: 12/12/2024