2024 State of Higher Education in Indiana - Letter on the State of Higher Education in Indiana

Oct 15, 2026

2024 State of Higher Education in Indiana outlines how the Indiana Commission for Higher Education has adapted its structure and strategy to better serve Hoosier students, employers, and communities. It introduces the HOPE Agenda—HOOSIER Opportunities and Possibilities through Education—as the strategic plan through 2030, built around enrollment, completion, and graduate retention. The report reflects progress across seven HOPE goals, highlights policies and programs driving change, and signals upcoming initiatives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages47

Reading Time1 h 58 min

AccessFree to download

HOPE Agenda

HOPE Agenda Goal 1

HOPE Agenda Goals 2 & 3

HOPE Agenda Goal 4

HOPE Agenda Goal 5

HOPE Agenda Goals 6 & 7

Data Strategy

2024 STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION in Indiana 2024 State of Higher Education in Indiana LOOKING TO 2025: A LETTER ON THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIANA FROM COMMISSIONER CHRIS LOWERY Indiana’s higher education landscape has undergone many changes throughout the years. As it continued to evolve to meet the needs of students and our economy, it became apparent the work of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (Commission, CHE) must adapt as well. Shortly after stepping into the role of Commissioner in 2022, the agency underwent a situation assessment and two reorganizations to bring greater intentionality and create a level of ownership in how the Commission develops, enhances, and implements strategic initiatives to support Hoosier students of all ages, employers, and our communities. Also, Career and Technical Education (CTE) found its permanent home at the Commission in July 2023. The alignment of CTE with the Commission’s mission and other work is a natural and logical fit for the agency’s overall strategic vision. To guide the Commission’s work and to carry the momentum brought by the agency’s changes, the HOPE Agenda — Hoosier Opportunities and Possibilities through Education — was introduced during the 2023 State of Higher Education Address. It serves as the strategic plan for the Commission’s work through 2030. The seven long-term goals within the HOPE Agenda, to be a top 10 state in the nation in each area, are borne of the current challenges and opportunities facing higher education in Indiana. The key pillars of the HOPE Agenda — enrollment, completion, and graduate retention — ensure all Hoosiers can seize the hope higher education provides, employers have access to a better-prepared workforce, and communities are strengthened. The Commission is facing head-on the challenges outlined in the HOPE Agenda through the implementation of a new strategic management process (SMP) . Goals six and seven of the HOPE Agenda serve as the vision for the SMP, and HOPE Agenda goals one through five as the strategic objectives to achieve that vision. Every full-time employee in the agency has three specific performance goals that are mapped to the HOPE Agenda, so they know how the work they are doing each day helps move the needle on the strategic plan. Members of the Commission’s senior leadership team are assigned as primarily and secondarily responsible for ensuring the Commission achieves each goal. This has driven accountability and measurability of progress. Our fellow Hoosiers should expect nothing less. This inaugural 2024 State of Higher Education Report serves as a reflection of the progress the Commission, with support from its partners, has made within each of the seven HOPE Agenda goals. The report addresses specific policies and programs that have driven change and mentions upcoming strategic initiatives to keep progress moving forward. Great strides have been made in recent years to improve outcomes for Hoosier students, employers, communities, and our state. As you’ll see in the report, we are on the right path, but work remains. Let’s use these findings to pinpoint areas of growth and solutions for progress to create more opportunities and possibilities for economic and social mobility and prosperity for every one of our fellow Hoosiers. Chris R. Lowery Commissioner Indiana Commission for Higher Education CHE.IN.GOV 2 2024 State of Higher Education in Indiana TABLE OF CONTENTS HOPE AGENDA 4 DATA STRATEGY 5 HOPE AGENDA GOAL 1 7 • Importance of high going-rates for youth and adult populations 7 • College-Going Rate – Youth 8 • College Credit in High School 9 • Indiana College Core and Career and Technical Education (CTE) 10 • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 12 • Indiana’s 2024-2025 FAFSA Completion Campaign 12 • Financial Aid Fiscal Impact 12 • Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College 13 • College-Going Rate – Adults 14 • Adult Student

FAQs

What is the HOPE Agenda and what time horizon does it cover?

The HOPE Agenda is the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s strategic plan through 2030.

Which three key pillars guide the HOPE Agenda?

The HOPE Agenda focuses on enrollment, completion, and graduate retention.

What does the 2024 State of Higher Education Report provide?

The report reflects progress across the seven HOPE Agenda goals, describes specific policies and programs driving change, and mentions upcoming strategic initiatives.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood