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Tracks the share graduating with zero loan debt and changes in average borrowed loan balances, showing declines in debt levels alongside rising debt-free graduation rates. Highlights drivers including increased financial aid and grants, moderated tuition growth, expanded dual credit that reduces time to degree, and strengthened financial literacy efforts.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/undergraduate-student-debt-levels-in-kentucky-five-year-trends-for-undergraduate-degree-and-credential-completers-at-public-universities-and-kctcs-january-2026/585262/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/undergraduate-student-debt-levels-in-kentucky-five-year-trends-for-undergraduate-degree-and-credential-completers-at-public-universities-and-kctcs-january-2026/585262.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Aria Callaghan","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-03","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":24},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What outcomes does the report measure for Kentucky undergraduate completers?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"It measures the share of students graduating with no loan debt and the average loan balance owed at credential completion across public institutions.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How have debt-free graduation rates changed over the last five years?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The report shows a substantial increase in the percentage of graduates who complete with zero debt, reaching 60.6% in 2024-25 for all Kentucky undergraduates.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What factors does the report cite for declining student debt levels?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"It attributes reductions to greater investment in grants and scholarships, moderated tuition rate increases, expanded financial aid and financial literacy initiatives, and shorter time to degree supported by dual credit growth.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},585262,1792165068,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":24,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},962084926284,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT  \nDEBT LEVELS IN KENTUCKY  \nFive-Year Trends for Undergraduate Degree and  \nCredential Completers at Public Universities and KCTCS  \nJANUARY 2026  \nTable of Contents  \nFrom the President 1  \nExecutive Summary 2  \nStatewide Trends 4  \nFigure 1. Percent of all undergraduate completers who graduate debt-free 5  \nFigure 2. Average loan balance of all public undergraduate borrowers 6  \nKCTCS Trends 7  \nFigure 3. Percent of KCTCS completers who graduate debt-free 8  \nFigure 4. Average loan balance of all KCTCS borrowers 9  \nFour-Year Trends 10  \nFigure 5. Percent of public university borrowers who graduate debt-free 11  \nFigure 6. Average loan balance of public university undergraduate borrowers 12  \nAverage Debt Burden 13  \nFigure 7. Average debt burden across all undergraduate completers 14  \nFigure 8. Average debt burden across all KCTCS completers 15  \nFigure 9. Average debt burden across all public university completers 16  \nContributing Factors 17  \nFactors Contributing to Student Debt Declines 18  \nFinancial Aid Trends 18  \nTuition Rate Management 19  \nDecreased Time to Degree 20  \nFinancial Literacy Initiatives 20  \nConclusion 20  \nAbout the Council 21  \nCPE Data and Advanced Analytics Team 22  \nFrom the President  \nCPE’s latest report examines college affordability through the lens of student loan debt. It examines both the share of students graduating with loans and the average balance owed at credential completion. While other factors, such as net price and financial aid availability, affectaffordability, unmanageable debt can curtail graduates’ability to meet theirfinancial obligations for years to come.  \nFortunately, the news is positive. Kentucky’s public higher education system has significantly lowered debt levels among undergraduate completers over the last five years. Nearly two-thirds (60. 6%) of students graduate from KCTCS and public universities with no loan debt. Among those who do borrow, the average loan balance has fallen 10.7%—from $28, 897 in 2019-20 to $25, 799 in 2024-25.  \nThis is not occurring because students are wealthier; enrollment of low-income students during the same period increased 7.9% . Rather, several statewide and campus initiatives are contributing to this trend. CPE and state policymakers are moderating tuition increases and investing more heavily in grants and scholarships. Institutions, especially, are offering more financial aid and betterfinancial literacy instruction. The tremendous growth in dual credit is shortening time-to-degree, which lowers the overall cost of a postsecondary credential.  \nTogether, these efforts are substantially reducing student debt levels. I’m hopeful that this report reassures Kentucky families that a quality postsecondary education remains within reach.  \nKentucky Council on Postsecondary Education | 1  \nExecutive Summary  \nThis report illustrates Kentucky's progress in reducing student loan debt among undergraduate degree and credential completers at public postsecondary institutions over the last five years. Not only are more students graduating debt-free, but average loan balances are also decreasing.  \nPercentage of graduates from Kentucky public institutions with zero debt  \nAll Graduates (KCTCS and Four-Year)  \n46.7%  \n2019-2020  \n60.6%  \n2024-2025  \nUp 14 .0 percentage points  \nKCTCS Graduates  \n60. 1%  \n2019-2020  \n73.5%  \n2024-2025  \nUp 13 .4 percentage points  \nFour-Year Public University Graduates  \n37.9%  \n2019-2020  \n45.8%  \n2024-2025  \nUp 7 .9 percentage points  \nKentucky Council on Postsecondary Education | 2  \nExecutive Summary (continued)  \nThe average loan balance accrued at graduation is declining across all postsecondary sectors. Increased investment in student financial aid, reduced time to degree (due in part to a rise in dual credit course completion) , and enhanced financial literacy efforts are contributing to this trend.  \nAverage loan balance of public undergraduate borrowers at completion  \nAll borrowers (KCTCS and Fo","cbCaijDaOrV127s8","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijDaOrV127s8","pdf",3615636,25,"English","# From the President\n# Executive Summary\n## Statewide Trends\n## KCTCS Trends\n## Four-Year Trends\n# Average Debt Burden\n# Contributing Factors\n# Conclusion\n# About the Council","[{\"question\":\"What outcomes does the report measure for Kentucky undergraduate completers?\",\"answer\":\"It measures the share of students graduating with no loan debt and the average loan balance owed at credential completion across public institutions.\"},{\"question\":\"How have debt-free graduation rates changed over the last five years?\",\"answer\":\"The report shows a substantial increase in the percentage of graduates who complete with zero debt, reaching 60.6% in 2024-25 for all Kentucky undergraduates.\"},{\"question\":\"What factors does the report cite for declining student debt levels?\",\"answer\":\"It attributes reductions to greater investment in grants and scholarships, moderated tuition rate increases, expanded financial aid and financial literacy initiatives, and shorter time to degree supported by dual credit growth.\"}]","UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DEBT LEVELS IN KENTUCKY - Five-Year Trends for Undergraduate Degree and Credential Completers at Public Universities and KCTCS - JANUARY 2026 | PDF",1792054196,63]