Kentucky undergraduate enrollment continues to grow, outpacing national trends

February 23, 2026

From Fall 2024 to Fall 2025, Kentucky continued its strong enrollment growth after the pandemic. Undergraduate enrollment increased faster than national trends in several parts of the state’s higher education system. According to a new report from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), total undergraduate enrollment increased 5% statewide, compared to just over 1% nationally. Growth was led by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) (6%), the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU)-affiliated private colleges (6%), and public four-year universities (3%).

Large increases in dual credit and first-time undergraduate enrollment point to continued growth ahead. Dual credit enrollment—an important sign that students are preparing for college and succeeding—increased 6% statewide and 9% at KCTCS. First-time undergraduate enrollment, another key sign of a strong student pipeline, increased 4% overall, with strong gains at AIKCU institutions (9%) and KCTCS (4%).

CPE also tracks enrollment among adult learners, who are important to Kentucky’s long-term workforce and education goals:

• Total adult undergraduate enrollment (ages 25–64) increased 7% statewide, including 7% growth at public four-year universities and 4% growth at KCTCS. AIKCU institutions saw especially strong adult enrollment growth (22%).
• First-time adult undergraduate enrollment increased 13% statewide, showing continued progress in bringing back adults who started college but did not earn a credential.

“Kentucky’s colleges and universities are sustaining meaningful enrollment growth across sectors and student populations,” said Dr. Aaron Thompson, CPE president. “These continued gains—especially among adult learners and first-time students—are essential to meeting our goal of having 60% of working-age Kentuckians hold a college credential by 2030.”

Student success measures also improved. At KCTCS, overall retention increased to 62%, including gains among low-income students. At public four-year universities, retention increased to 81%, including gains among low-income students. Three-year graduation rates at KCTCS increased to 51%, while six-year graduation rates at public four-year universities stayed steady at 61%.

The enrollment report looks at undergraduate enrollment across KCTCS, public four-year universities, and AIKCU-affiliated private institutions. Improvements in retention and graduation rates also support Kentucky’s long-term goal of increasing college credential attainment among working-age adults.

CPE releases enrollment updates each February after enrollment data collection closes, with the full report and interactive dashboards published in mid-February. The full report can be accessed on CPE’s website.