BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Many schools, such as Western Kentucky University, have seen high numbers of retained students.

WKU has seen a first-to-second-year retention rate of 79.4%, said Jace Lux, the university's director of media relations. It's the highest retention rate the university has seen.

“Certainly, knocking on the door of that 80% goal," Lux said.

The university also awarded 4,700 degrees last academic year, the most in school history, and has seen a significant increase in graduate students.

However, WKU and many other schools across the commonwealth have seen a drop in students from other countries.

"Really saw that start during COVID, during the pandemic," Lux said.

A survey from the Institute of International Education found international student enrollment has dropped

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