Minnesota State Colleges and Universities officials have made four out of five targets set by lawmakers.

In 2013, the legislature decided to withhold 5 percent of the system's funding until it met at least three goals.

The system increased the number of degrees it produced, raised the employment rate of its graduates, and created a plan to reduce student expenses. It also reallocated millions toward instruction and student support.

The system was supposed to raise graduation rates one percentage point, but could not.

Raising graduation rates was one of the most important goals, says Terri Bonoff, the DFL chair of the Senate's higher education committee.

"We'll spend a lot of committee time on it this session, because I think it gets at the heart of why the student debt is what it is," said Bonoff.

MnSCU says the improving economy has caused many students to leave school.

"As students come in and out based on their job circumstances, that interferes with their ability to stay in school and complete," said Laura King, MnSCU's chief financial officer.