Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities saw a significant increase in the number of degrees they awarded this spring.

Students at Kentucky’s twenty independent colleges and universities earned a record 3,157 bachelor’s degrees this spring, up nearly 9 percent over the previous year and 23 percent since 2004, according to a preliminary report issued earlier this week by the Council on Postsecondary Education.

AIKCU campuses awarded 27 percent of the baccalaureate degrees awarded by Kentucky’s public and private nonprofit institutions this spring.

“These numbers illustrate the tremendous value that our members bring to their students and the Commonwealth,” said AIKCU President Gary S. Cox. “State financial aid to our students represents less than 4 percent of the state’s spending on higher education, yet those students made up more than one-fourth of this spring‘s bachelor degree graduates. That’s a pretty good return on investment.”

AIKCU members awarded 4,225 total degrees, diplomas and certificates at all levels this spring, an increase of more than 15 percent over 2008 and 32 percent over five years. Together, Kentucky’s independent and public colleges and universities combined to award more than 30,178 total degrees this spring, an increase of 7 percent over last year and a 40 percent increase over 5 years.

“We’re proud of our members’ continued growth in degree production, and very pleased with the overall growth in degree attainment in both the independent and public sectors,” said Cox. “Kentucky’s people and economy will benefit as we all strive to meet the goals of reform and increase opportunities for Kentuckians.”

While growth was strong at all levels, AIKCU institutions saw particularly large gains in the numbers of graduate degrees awarded. Total graduate and professional degrees numbered 745, an increase of 55 percent over 2008 and 97 percent over 2004.

CPE will release a final 2008-09 degree production report in the fall. The preliminary CPE spring degrees report does not include more than 700 degrees that were awarded in mid-year commencement ceremonies.

For additional information see the CPE press release and prelimary report.