April is National Community College Month and students at the 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) are hard at work preparing for their future careers or to transfer to a four-year institution.
In honor of Community College Month here are:
10 Facts About Kentucky Community and Technical College Students
1. They are a large group. In the last academic year more than 116,000 students enrolled at KCTCS colleges. KCTCS is the largest provider of postsecondary education in the state. Nearly half of all undergraduates attend one of the of 16 KCTCS colleges.
2. They are close to home. With 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses statewide, a KCTCS campus is within a 30 minute drive of 95 percent of all Kentuckians. Many students say in addition to affordability, they choose to attend their local community and technical college because of the close proximity to family and friends.
3. They are saving money on higher education. KCTCS is the most affordable higher education institution in Kentucky, offering the lowest tuition. Students can attend two-years at a local community and technical college for the price of one year at a university. KCTCS also is the only public postsecondary institution that did not raise tuition this academic year.
4. They are learning on their terms, when they say it’s time. KCTCS students can enroll in more than 77 online credential programs, the largest online learning selection in the state. Students can select convenient options like Learn on Demand or Learn by Term to fit their lifestyle.
5. They are preparing to enter the workforce. KCTCS students can choose from a wide variety of career-related programs including high growth, high demand and high wage fields like advanced manufacturing, criminal justice; nursing; radiography; electrical technology; business management; and more. KCTCS is the largest provider of workforce training in the state, and programs are geared toward local job opportunities.
6. They are prepared to transfer to a four-year institution. Thousands of KCTCS students transfer to our four-year partner institutions each year. Research shows our students do as well or better than those who completed their first two years at a university.
7. They are part of a diverse group. The percentage of diverse students enrolling each fall continues to increase. In fall 2015, 14.2 percent of the total student population self-identified as being Black/African American, Latino or two-or-more races. This represents a 10 percent increase since fall 2011. In addition, between 2012 and 2015, KCTCS has seen an upward trend in the number of graduates from under-represented populations.
8. They attend some of the top 10 percent of community colleges in the U.S. In a 2015 ranking by The Aspen Institute, four KCTCS colleges were among the nation’s top 150 best community colleges. West Kentucky Community and Technical College has been recognized three consecutive times an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College and twice as a Finalist with Distinction.
9. They are earning credentials in record numbers. Last academic year, KCTCS awarded a record number of credentials. Additionally, a report from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) ranks Kentucky second in the nation for improvement in credentials awarded. From 2000-2012, the number of associate degrees awarded tripled and certificates increased tenfold. For the first time in history, Kentucky surpassed the national average in associate degree attainment.
10. They will join an esteemed group of alumni. Former KCTCS students are now doctors, lawyers, professors and teachers, politicians, researchers, chefs, TV meteorologists, business owners, firefighters, jockeys, filmmakers, company managers, health care leaders and college administrators, just to name a few.
To learn more about KCTCS students and how KCTCS has transformed the lives of more than 750,000 Kentuckians, visit kctcsproud.com/.
From KCTCS