Illinois is beating national trends when it comes to enrollment at the state’s public universities. Fall 2023 undergraduate enrollment increased 0.3% compared to last year. That reverses several consecutive years of decreases, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Freshmen enrollment was up 1.5% compared to fall of 2021, that’s compared to a decrease of more than 6% at the national level for public universities. African American and Latino enrollments in Illinois also increased. First-time full-time freshmen enrollment at UIS was up 4.5% compared to last year.
“Once again, Illinois is bucking national trends and exceeding expectations with the third consecutive year of freshman enrollment growth at our public universities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our state’s higher education systems are bouncing back better than ever—a testament to smart fiscal management and a state budget that includes the largest increase for higher education in twenty-years and an all-time high for in-state scholarships totaling more than $750 million. College affordability and equity go hand-in-hand, and I couldn’t be prouder of the strides we are making to ensure that every student, especially those who have been historically locked out of higher education, has the opportunity to earn a degree.”