The Importance of Higher Education in Kentucky

Launched in October 2021, the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative (KYSSC) has been working alongside the James Graham Brown Foundation to change the lives of students in the state. Studies out of Kentucky have shown that Kentuckians with a bachelor’s degree earn nearly $1 million more than a high school graduate. It’s facts like these that emphasize just how much higher education matters.

From increased workforce participation to improved financial security, to decreased participation in benefit programs, the positives of having a college or equivalent degree are endless. In recent years, the KYSSC has been working towards a goal of 60% of Kentucky’s population holding a postsecondary credential by 2030. Although there has been much progress, there are still remaining challenges with enrollment and degree attainment.

The James Graham Brown Foundation has offered much financial support that has allowed the Kentucky education system to move forward. This support has boosted momentum towards greater goals, uniting people together, and allowing for a spread of best practices and difference making. Student needs are being met, enrollment has seen unmatched retention, and transfer pathways are more accessible than ever.

The KYSSC’s operating principle of being able to “accomplish more together than any of us can do on our own” is a driving force in their success. Because of this, there is no doubt that the future is promising for the KYSSC and the students of the state of Kentucky.

Source: Kentucky Student Success Collaborative