Most KCTCS grads, 72%, leave college without student loan debt
Published on May 20, 2025
KCTCS leads the way in affordable, debt-free education for the workforce
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System continues to set the standard
for delivering accessible, affordable and workforce-centered education. A new report
has found that KCTCS has the highest percentage of graduates without debt by a wide
margin, and graduates with student loan debt have the lowest average balance among
all public higher education institutions in Kentucky.
In the 2023-24 academic year, 72% of KCTCS graduates completed their programs — two-year associate degrees, diplomas and workforce certificates — without incurring student loan debt, a gain of 14.7 percentage points in five years.
These findings come from a recent student debt report published by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, which highlighted overall state progress in reducing both loan amounts and the percentage of graduates with debt among public undergraduates.
“This is how we meet students where they are – offering affordable, flexible pathways that align with the needs of our students, our workforce and communities,” said KCTCS President Ryan Quarles. “By leveraging innovative state scholarships, increasing transfer success, and investing in shorter, stackable credentials, we’re giving Kentuckians the opportunity to earn high-value credentials without the burden of excessive debt,” he said.
For the 28% of KCTCS graduates who took out student loans in 2023-24, the average loan amount was $13,629, the lowest among the state’s public higher education institutions and a 6.5% decrease in five years. It is also less than half of the average debt of the state’s public university undergraduates.
KCTCS officials noted that the reported average debt includes loans students may have accrued at other institutions before completing their studies at a KCTCS college.
In comparison, the report found 54.9% of public university undergraduates earning degrees had student loan debt in 2023-24 with an average balance of $32,996.
KCTCS’s commitment to affordability is supported by two state-funded programs: the Dual Credit Scholarship and the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, which provide tuition-free college courses to high school students. The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship also supports adults. Including other state grants and scholarships such as CAP and KEES funding, the average state scholarship award for community college graduates rose from $2,605 in 2018-19 to $3,572 in 2023-24, a 37.1% increase.
In addition, the report noted that average KCTCS institutional aid, including aid tied to dual credit regulations, increased 72.2% during the same period. These regulations require KCTCS to waive half of the tuition for dual credit courses, and students exceeding their free-tuition limits can continue taking courses at a 50% tuition discount.
Despite a 15.3% decline in the average federal grant aid award, the total average aid package, including state, federal and institutional sources, awarded to KCTCS graduates increased 5.1% compared to 2018-19, according to the report.
Other factors driving debt-free success include:
- Lowest tuition in the state: KCTCS colleges maintain the most affordable tuition among public higher education institutions in Kentucky, with costs roughly half those of four-year public universities.
- Faster completion times: More students are completing programs in less time, and many are opting for shorter-term credentials and certificates over degrees, reducing the need for loans.
- Earn-and-learn models: Programs like KY FAME allow students to work while going to college, earning competitive wages and avoiding debt.
Looking ahead, KCTCS is expanding new strategies to bolster its affordability mission, including partnerships with Education First Employers — businesses that provide both flexible schedules and financial support for working students — and expanding competency-based education to offer students more control over pacing and cost.
