The University of Illinois System’s fall enrollment has topped 102,000 for the first time, extending its string of record fall enrollments, with growth driven largely by new in-state undergraduates. Undergraduate enrollment rose 3.4% overall, with Illinois residents up 4.2% across the system’s universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. Including this fall’s total enrollment growth of 1.2% to a new record of 102,267 students, system enrollment has grown 25.5% over the past decade.

“This record enrollment reflects more than growing demand for an Illinois education. It reflects growing confidence in Illinois itself,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said. “Every additional student who chooses one of our universities represents new talent, new ideas and new possibilities for the state’s future workforce, economy and communities. Our responsibility is not only to educate these students, but to ensure Illinois remains a place where they can build careers, start companies, solve problems and contribute to the state’s long-term prosperity.”

The U of I System’s commitment to affordability has included considerable expansion of its financial aid support over the past decade, including the addition of free-tuition programs for qualifying Illinois students at all three universities. Forty percent of resident undergraduates pay no tuition or fees, and over two-thirds pay less than the full price. The system has also frozen tuition in eight of the past 12 years.

In-state students now make up 79.9% of undergraduate enrollment. Black undergraduate enrollment rose 8.5% and Hispanic undergraduate enrollment rose 5.8%, reflecting the system’s ongoing effort to expand access for students across the state. More than 32% of first-time freshmen are first-generation university students.

The system saw declines in international enrollment, which fell by 5.9% among undergraduates and 15.4% among graduate and professional students. New restrictions on student visas and other factors are affecting international student enrollments throughout the country.

Enrollment numbers are based on the 10th day of classes at the three universities. Ten-day figures are the traditional benchmark for reporting enrollment among U.S. colleges and universities.

Highlights from each university:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Enrollment totaled a campus record 61,060, with in-state undergraduates up 2.5%.

University of Illinois Chicago
Enrollment reached 37,199, a 3.7% increase and a campus record.

University of Illinois Springfield
Enrollment was 4,008, with undergraduate enrollment up 0.9%.