LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s a record-setting year for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. KCTCS says over 85,000 students are expected this fall, an 8.4% increase over 2023. The college systems said the enrollment sets a 10-year-record with growth in all student classifications, races and ethnicities, ages and targeted industry sectors.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky Community and Technical College System sees record enrollment

  • The growth is being seen in all sectors

  • The system also reports it is seeing gains in programs that mirror Kentucky’s “targeted industry sectors”

  • KCTCS has 16 colleges and makes up over 45% of the state’s public higher education undergraduate enrollment

On Aug. 23, enrollment reached 66,114 students, an 8.4% increase and 5,145 more students than last year. KCTCS says enrollment will keep growing during the semester because KCTCS has multiple start dates depending on the program.

KCTCS President Ryan Quarles said, “Our 16 colleges are preparing students of all ages and backgrounds to continue their education at our state’s four-year institutions or to enter the Kentucky workforce in a skills-based, high-demand career.”

The KCTCS report showed new student enrollment jumped 11% from last year. Enrollment of students working toward a degree jumped 11.9% while students working toward certificates or taking classes, but not seeking a degree, rose 19.8%

The system also reports it is seeing gains in programs that mirror Kentucky’s “targeted industry sectors.”

Enrollment gains include:

  • Advanced manufacturing, 8.7%

  • Business & IT services, 3.4%

  • Construction, 10.6%

  • Healthcare, 17%

  • Transportation and logistics, 2.8%

The system is experiencing growth across all age groups. High school students taking dual credit classes, with support from the dual credit scholarship, grew 11.6% over last fall and accounted for 23.5% of this fall’s enrollment total. By the end of the semester, this student population is expected to reach 35% of the system’s total enrollment.

Nontraditional enrollment, which includes adults ages 25 and over, grew 10.4%, making up 32% of total enrollment.

KCTCS said by the end of the 2024-25 academic year, it expects to enroll approximately 112,000 students in either an associate degree program designed to transfer to a four-year university or in one of the 104 technical programs.

KCTCS has 16 colleges and makes up over 45% of the state’s public higher education undergraduate enrollment. KCTCS says it is the largest postsecondary education institution in the state. 

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