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* As we’ve discussed before, Western Illinois University enrollment has plummeted over the years. The school laid off several employees last year, 57 faculty and 32 staff were let go and the university “opted not to renew contracts for 35 non-tenure-track workers and staff,” according to Crain’s. It’s now working on a reorganization. From Tri States Public Radio last month…
TSPR asked [President Kristi Mindrup] if WIU can maintain an enrollment of around 5,000 with a freshman class of that size.
“With new strategies that we’ll have in place, looking at data, working with experts, we are looking at expanding and changing some of our markets and so attracting new students to Western Illinois University is one strategy,” Mindrup said.
She said the administration also has “a number of other strategies” designed to keep students at WIU once they come, and she said they will develop a new strategic plan in the coming year.
Mindrup said WIU can be a great university even with 5,000 students.
“We can leverage the idea of 5,000 students to ensure that students understand that they’re not just a number at Western Illinois University, that they’ll have personalized attention,” Mindrup said.
She said the administration has made adjustments that will allow WIU to be sustainable with a lower enrollment.
But what happens if enrollment falls below 5,000? It’s getting close.
* The spin after the new enrollment numbers were published last week…
From 6,332 total enrollment to 5,337 this fall, enrollment numbers from WIU show a decline over the years, though officials noted that enrollment is higher than its forecast weeks earlier of 5,100 students.
“By enrolling more students than our projected number, we can build upon our momentum and allow our student supports to reach further,” according to Vice President for Student Success Justin Schuch. Schuch also said 197 students enrolled at WIU were students who had left the university, but have since returned to finish their degrees.
At that pace, WIU will be below 5,000 next year.
Those 2024 layoffs may have further spooked prospective students and their parents. Freshman enrollment was down 26 percent this year compared to last. And it’s down almost 50 percent since fall of 2021.
Back in 2021, 17.7 percent percent of freshmen who were accepted decided to enroll. This year, that’s down to 8.8 percent.
* Back to Crain’s…
The continued drop in students has put strain on the school’s ability to balance its budget. Last year, WIU’s board of trustees approved a round of layoffs as it stared down a $22 million deficit, which it estimated would be reduced to $10 million following the cuts.
I’m a big proponent of the directional schools. Not everyone can move to a far-away university town.
But if WIU winds up with just a few thousand students, then maybe letting area community colleges offer four-year degrees might not be such a bad thing. And I kinda suspect that’s what was at the heart of Gov. Pritzker’s push last spring to allow the colleges to do just that.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:05 pm
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Would there be legislative appetite for allowing WIU and its neighboring community colleges to share facilities, if not outright merge?
Comment by Ares Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:12 pm
Maybe the U of I should take it over. Just adding that name could give it a significant enrollment boost.
Comment by thechampaignlife Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:21 pm
EIU is almost there. They report 8,107 students this fall. But they’re being extremely misleading with that number. 2,574 of them are dual-enrollment students….high school students in Illinois taking 1 or 2 classes, taught by high school teachers. So, in reality, EIU has appx. 5,500 students.
EIU, WIU, and sadly, SIUC need to seriously rethink their existence. Perhaps it’s time for them to merge with local community colleges.
The way these schools are going is not sustainable. If they don’t do something EIU and WIU will be closed within 10 years, SIUC, shortly after.
Comment by Ryan Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:32 pm
WIU isn’t doing itself any great favors in how they are responding to this crisis. Went ahead and built the performing arts center while bleeding money, students, and employees. They also continue to allow tenured faculty to teach classes with only 3 or 4 students enrolled in some programs.
Comment by Grimlock Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:49 pm
One of the biggest barriers WIU faces is high tuition. The enrollment decline at the directional universities really took off in the early 00s when the state slashed higher ed funding and the universities had to increase tuition to make ends meet. It became less expensive to go to Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, or Missouri than to stay in state; and, it was not much farther to drive.
Now, the state has been trying to reverse that, but we are still at least a bit more expensive for incoming freshmen (although, that often reverses by jr-sr year because Illinois universities have to hold tuition flat for each student for four years). Also, the now set patterns are hard to break; an older sibling or friend went to Iowa State or UW Whitewater and others follow.
WIU’s cuts have clearly discouraged prospective students. Who wants to go to a university with limited course options and the risk that your program might be cut before you can graduate?
The Bachelors at a CC won’t address the problem because the options would be very limited in terms of programs and available courses.
If WIU is to be saved, and I think it should be, the state needs to invest in the university to lower tuition and broaden offerings (both good signals to prospective students). And then publicize all of the state universities and help prospective students find them (which is in the works with the development and launching of the direct admissions program for in-state students).
IBHE could further educate high school students and parents about how to estimate the four-year cost of leaving the state (out-of-state schools may be less expensive freshman year, but when they raise tuition each year staying in state may be the better financial choice). In addition, Iowa, Missouri, and other “red” states have started restricting what can be taught at universities and have removed many of their targeted student support services. That might be a red flag for students as well.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:59 pm
== Not everyone can move to a far-away university town. ==
True, which is in my opinion why these regional schools are still important: a lot of students are commuting from a few counties away to school. People in the area can get a very good (and affordable) education and still manage to live at home in Schuyler or Adams counties.
The enrollment drop means that reorganization and refocus of mission is necessary, not outright closure. WIU expanded to meet the need of the GI bill and the influx of many baby-boomers. Enrollment has been dropping steadily ever since then.
The state could stem the bleeding by helping make the schools more affordable with even a tiny fraction of the current budget for UofI being shifted to these regional schools.
Comment by Incandenza Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 2:59 pm
Well at least they will have a new $100M performing arts building.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:06 pm
Macomb and Charleston (both of which I have visited many times over the last decade) are struggling. I am sure the schools are having a major impact on that. But they are not helping their own cause.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:13 pm
WIU Quad Cities enrolled just 15 full-time freshmen this year and their total enrollment is less than half what it was in 2019.
https://www.wiu.edu/irp/enrollment_data.php
Comment by City Zen Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:15 pm
===WIU Quad Cities===
Yeah. Lots of money spent to, for a goodly portion, save Mike Jacobs’ behind.
Didn’t work.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:20 pm
WIU might just be seeing the earliest effects of the fertility rate falling off a cliff, fewer and fewer freshmen-aged students every year.
Comment by Grüezi Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:22 pm
Declining state public K-12 enrollment of 150k over the last ten years does not bode well for universities struggling simply to maintain their current reduced level of enrollment.
Comment by Oldtimer Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:23 pm
I don’t know why the state doesn’t have a university system like some other states. One University with branches. Make all he directional schools part of U of I Isn’t that what Wisconsin and California do?
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:24 pm
===Make all he directional schools part of U of I===
The alumni association is very powerful here. They ain’t gonna want that.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:30 pm
Looking at public university enrollment, only 4 of the 12 schools aren’t struggling: the U of I-Champaign, U of I-Chicago, Illinois State, and SIU-Edwardsville.
Comment by Oldtimer Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:37 pm
I’m not sure its just the Alumni associations considering the various fights have occurred between the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses within SIU over the years.
Comment by Juice Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:44 pm
The population in Western Illinois region is declining at an equal rate.
Comment by old guy Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:49 pm
The challenges facing WIU are emblematic of a broader crisis in regional public higher education. If the state is serious about reversing population decline, it must invest directly in the operational health of institutions like WIU. These universities are not peripheral—they are essential infrastructure.
The state should also expand and convert its MAP grants into a more strategic tool for population growth. Instead of simply subsidizing tuition, MAP grants could be restructured and significantly expanded into forgivable loans—contingent on graduates living and working in Illinois for a set number of years (forgiveness earned each year). This would allow the state to recoup its investment not through repayment, but through economic contribution. In the event that students leave (and many do), the state can recover its investment.
Comment by Mr. Middleground Monday, Sep 22, 25 @ 3:54 pm