Kentucky has decided to undertake a massive effort to increase the number of college degrees among residents, in an initiative called 60×30. The goal is to ensure that 60% of adult state residents have a post-secondary degree by 2030, in order to boost the state’s job market and overall economy. Currently, there are 1.4 million adults in Kentucky that do not have a college degree completed and two-thirds have never attended college at all. Kentucky is already in the top ten states for job vacancies, and this gap will continue to increase if employers require college degrees and residents are not able to meet these requirements. 

There are many reasons why adult learners struggle to complete their degree. For one, many adult learners have not been in a classroom setting for years and often require additional academic support to be successful, which might not be in place at many colleges. Many adults also have conflicting work schedules and family responsibilities that might interfere with classes. This can be resolved with flexible learning options, like online or nighttime classes, as well as reasonably priced child care—which is currently lacking in Kentucky. These barriers must be removed in order to boost adult enrollment in higher education.