Building on our Momentum
Building on our Momentum
February 5, 2026
Dear Thorobred Family,
Â鶹ֱ²¥ is delivering an educational experience that prepares graduates
not just for the workforce, but for lives of leadership and service. Our enrollment
is growing, and the resilience we have demonstrated in the face of adversity speaks
to the character of this learning community. I see it in the way we all show up for
students, support one another, and remain focused on the work that matters most.
Progress is evident in our numbers. As of the Fall 2025 census, Kentucky State enrolled
2,838 students, one of the highest headcounts in a decade, representing a 34 percent
increase over Fall 2024 and more than 70 percent over Fall 2023. In January, we were
excited to welcome 74 new first-year students and 110 transfer students for the Spring
2026 semester, continuing that positive trajectory.
Beyond headcount, which represents the total number of students enrolled, we also
track full-time equivalent enrollment, or FTE, which reflects overall credit-hour
activity. Data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, or IPEDS,
show that FTE increased from 1,499 in 2024–2025 to 1,619 in 2025–2026, up by 120,
or about eight percent. At a moment when many institutions are working to rebuild
confidence, our continued growth reflects trust in Kentucky State’s direction and
in the outcomes we help students achieve.
Just as important, that confidence is reflected in our students’ achievements and
by the high-impact experiences that are defining what it means to be a Thorobred.
In December, Kentucky State students participated in supported through USDA’s NextGen initiative. The experience brought classroom concepts
into focus through site-based learning across Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, the Sacred
Valley, and rural communities, connecting coursework to place-based problem-solving.
That applied approach is visible on our campus as well. At our 11th annual GIS Day,
also supported through USDA’s NextGen initiative and other partner investments, more
than 120 high school and college students showing how spatial thinking connects to the environment, public health, and real
community decision-making.
Our students are also earning recognition that reflects the strength of the University.
For example, at the Global Agriculture and Agribusiness Case Study Competition, . We see that same excellence in research, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Students
are presenting alongside faculty mentors in professional settings, including annual convention in Lexington, and building an entrepreneurial mindset through the
, where ideas are refined into business-ready presentations for external judges. In
STEM, completed a four-month HBCU/MSI research internship at Wright–Patterson Air Force
Base. His large-scale simulation work in Python and cloud environments reflects how
we connect talent to high-level opportunity.
All of this brings me to an important moment ahead: Spring Preview Day on February
14. This event invites prospective students and their families to experience Kentucky
State firsthand. When you see visiting families on campus that day, I encourage you
to share your own story of success and transformation. Those personal moments of warmth,
pride, and a clear sense of purpose are often what families remember most.
Thank you for what you do each day to support students, strengthen community, and
build on our momentum.
Onward and Upward,
Koffi C. Akakpo, Ph.D.
President
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