Over the past several years, Kentucky State University has experienced a steep decline in both its student headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment. Between fall semesters 2010 and 2014, KSU's student headcount enrollment decreased by 956 students, or 33.5 percent, and its FTE student enrollment decreased by 760 students, or 32.4 percent. About two-thirds of this decline was caused when over 600 students were not allowed to continue enrollment due to nonpayment of bills, but other factors contributed, as well.

The loss in student enrollment resulted in marked declines in both gross billable tuition and fee revenue and total public funds during this period. In fact, between fiscal years 2010-11 and 2014-15, KSU's gross billable tuition and fee revenue decreased by $6.7 million, or 29.2 percent, and when combined with cuts in state funding of about $2.5 million over this same period, the university's total public funds revenue decreased by $9.2 million, or 18.8 percent

Among institutions in the comprehensive sector, the set of circumstances described above is unique to Kentucky State University. During the same period, the average increase in gross tuition and fee revenue among comprehensive universities other than KSU was $28.6 million, or 20.5 percent, and the average increase in total public funds revenue was $22.3 million, or 10.4 percent.

The loss in total public funds revenue has placed considerable stress on KSU's operating budget. Campus officials responded by implementing a number of cost savings and cost avoidance strategies, including several rounds of personnel layoffs.

These actions have resulted in a balanced budget for FY 2018, with no budgeted use of the University's fund balance. While these reductions have been severe, they have allowed the University to maintain core functions and focus efforts on activities that directly affect student success. For the upcoming FY18-20 Biennium, the University is now in a position to strategically apply new resources to improve student success and stabilize the enrollment base.

KSU receives funds from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture to support agricultural research (Evans-Allen Research Program) and extension programs. These funds are specifically designated for 1890 Land Grant institutions and require that the federal award be matched by the state on a one to one basis.

Section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 requires that “the State shall provide matching funds from non-Federal sources. Such matching funds shall be for an amount equal to not less than ... 100 percent of the

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