* Governor JB Pritzker’s office….

Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) announced that enrollment at public universities in Illinois reached the highest level since 2015, with more than 190,000 students enrolled during the fall semester of the 2026-27 academic year. Total enrollment at Illinois public universities increased for the third consecutive year and is the highest in 11 years according to IBHE’s annual
First Look Fall Enrollment report.

The statewide increase was just 287 students, or 0.15 percent.

* According to the IBHE report⁠, undergraduate enrollment grew by 2,464 students, or 1.8 percent. Graduate and professional enrollment fell by 2,177, or 3.9 percent, with declines at all 12 public universities. The biggest factor in that decline…

International enrollment fell 14.2% (-3,147 students) to 19,082 in Fall 2026. Undergraduate enrollment fell 5.8% (-521) to 8,495, and graduate and professional enrollment fell 19.9% (-2,626) to 10,587.

International enrollment fell at all 12 public universities. In headcount terms, the largest losses were at the two universities with the most international students, UIUC (-1,179) and UIC (-471). In percentage terms, the largest drops were at GSU (-59.9%), UIS (-52.3%), and EIU (-43.3%), mainly because of large declines in international graduate students. At the undergraduate level, results were mixed: NEIU (+16.9%), CSU (+14.8%), and SIUE (+0.4%) posted gains, whereas UIC (-7.8%) and UIUC (-5.3%) declined.

* From the governor’s press release…

The [international student] decreases are attributed to changes to student visa processing by the federal government. These changes have negatively affected enrollment at public and private universities in Illinois and across the country, creating an unnecessary fiscal strain on postsecondary institutions and diminishing access to talent in all areas of study.

And then there’s Western, which we discussed last year.

WIU’s total enrollment fell another 16.7 percent, from 5,337 to 4,447. That’s 890 fewer students in one year. Undergraduate enrollment dropped 17.4 percent, and graduate enrollment fell 14.9 percent.

Its freshman class is now 429 students, down from 923 in fall 2018.

* More from the governor’s release…

Enrollment of African American and Latino students increased overall, including at the undergraduate and graduate levels, despite the federal government’s efforts to close doors to opportunity, a testament to the students’ drive and the State’s and institutions’ commitment to equity. Total enrollment of African American students increased by 7%, and total enrollment of Latino students increased by 3.5%, or 1,156 students.

Discuss.