KCTCS welcomes 70,325 students for fall term, a 6.4% increase
SKYCTC Achieves second highest Increase at 9.2%
VERSAILLES, Ky. -- As of the first week of classes, 70,325 students have enrolled at the 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, including students hailing from all 120 Kentucky counties. The enrollment is a 6.4% increase, totaling 4,211 more students compared to the same time last year. With multiple start dates still ahead, officials project total enrollment will surpass 85,000 before the semester ends.
Fourteen KCTCS colleges posted enrollment gains, and nine of those colleges exceeded 5% gains. Jefferson led with a 12.3% increase, followed by Southcentral (9.2%), Somerset (9.1%), Hopkinsville (7.9%), Ashland (7.6%), Madisonville (7.1%), Gateway (6.4%), Bluegrass (5.7%) and Southeast (5.7%).
“This strong enrollment growth reflects the growing confidence Kentuckians have in our colleges as the most affordable and accessible pathway to a better future and a great career,” said KCTCS President Ryan Quarles. “Whether students are earning a credential, training for a career, or getting a head start with dual credit in high school, we are committed to helping them succeed and strengthening Kentucky’s workforce.”
Fourteen colleges also increased full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount, resulting in a 5.9% systemwide gain. Two colleges topped 10% increases — Southcentral (11.0%) and Gateway (10.9%).
Surging enrollment growth comes as Kentucky and the nation face a continuing workforce shortage. KCTCS plays a critical role in addressing that gap, offering more than 100 programs aligned with state workforce needs in healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and other high-demand fields.
Across the system, gains include:
Credential-seeking enrollment, 4.4%
High school dual credit enrollment, 12.6%
Workforce/non-degree enrollment, 5.9%
Full-time enrollment, 5.2%, and part-time enrollment, 7.2%
New student enrollment rose 2.5%. This includes a decrease of 3.1% in new credential-seeking
enrollment, a gain of 9.6% in new high school enrollment, and an increase of 3.7%
in new workforce/non-degree enrollment.
Male student enrollment grew 7.5%, while female enrollment rose 5.7%.
Substantial enrollment gains were made among most age groups:
Students under 18 increased 12.4%
Ages 18–19 grew 5.3%
Ages 20–24, climbed 6.0%
Adult students (25+) grew 3.4%
Official enrollment for the term will be finalized later this year.
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About the Kentucky Community and Technical College System
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System consists of a network of regional colleges and a system office dedicated to serving communities across the commonwealth. As Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training and postsecondary education, KCTCS enrolls more than 110,000 students annually. United in mission and purpose, KCTCS and its colleges are committed to improving the lives of students, strengthening communities and advancing the prosperity of Kentucky’s citizens.
About Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College will improve South Central Kentucky’s economic prosperity through higher education focused on career development, community partnerships, and economic growth. SKYCTC helps students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through quality education, small class sizes, and the most affordable tuition in Kentucky. In addition, SKYCTC partners with businesses and industries to align college programs to meet the needs of regional employers. SKYCTC has six campuses with locations in Bowling Green, Glasgow, and Franklin, KY, and is one of 16 colleges that comprise the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
