Enrollment at Illinois Universities Has Biggest Growth in 8 Years

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) revealed tremendous growth at the state's institutions of higher learning over the past year.

Fall 2024 Enrollment Data Released by IBHE

This fall, a total of 185,590 students are enrolled across the state’s universities, marking an overall increase of 1.6% and an additional 2,993 students compared to last year.

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Undergraduate enrollment saw a 2% increase from last year, continuing its upward trend for the second year in a row. Freshman enrollment also grew, with a 0.6% rise compared to last year, making this the fourth consecutive year of freshman enrollment growth.

Transfer enrollment also saw significant gains, with a 5.1% increase in new full-time transfer students.

Achieving the highest enrollment in eight years not only marks a significant win for our students and state, but it also demonstrates that our investments in higher education are working. -Governor JB Pritzker

Enrollment Growth Among African American and Latino Students

Enrollment gains were notably strong among African American and Latino students, a reflection of Illinois’ efforts to create a more equitable higher education system.

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African American undergraduate enrollment grew by 2.8%, while Latino undergraduate enrollment increased by 1.4%. Graduate and professional programs also saw significant gains, with a 6% increase in African American enrollment and a 6.8% rise among Latino students.

Reaching the highest enrollment across the state's universities in eight years, compounded with the overall enrollment increases of African American and Latino students, is proof that we are moving our higher education system to one where everyone has access to a college degree. -IBHE Chair Pranav Kothari

Retention and Transfer Gains

The retention rate for new freshmen also saw a boost, with 81.3% of students from last year’s freshman class still enrolled. Seven of the state’s 12 public universities reported year-over-year increases in new transfer students.

IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro acknowledged the progress, stating, “It is encouraging to see more students walk into our state universities, and we will continue to make the path toward graduation more equitable for all students in Illinois.”