Enrollment grew across the University of Illinois System this fall, topping 90,000 students for the first time and setting a record for the eighth straight year despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn it has spawned, President Tim Killeen announced today.

Combined enrollment at the system’s universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield increased 1.2 percent to 90,343 students, up from 89,270 students a year ago. The numbers include students in Urbana-Champaign who are enrolled in year-round, self-paced courses that are not part of the regular fall semester, and are based on enrollment as of last Friday, the 10th day of classes. Ten-day figures are the traditional benchmark for enrollment among U.S. colleges and universities.

Killeen said maintaining the system’s high enrollment during the pandemic reflects the academic excellence of its three universities, and its efforts to promote both student safety and affordability amid the crisis. 

A pioneering saliva-based testing and surveillance program developed by Urbana-Champaign researchers has been implemented system-wide this fall, allowing widespread testing and rapid isolation of students who test positive to limit spread of the virus. The U of I System also created a new fund that includes federal CARES Act money and will provide at least $36 million in targeted financial aid to help students facing hardships due to COVID-19.

“Even in a year of historic challenges, enrollment grew to another all-time high. I am proud that students continue to turn to our universities to achieve their dreams, and help us expand the pipeline of world-class talent that will move our state and nation forward,” Killeen said.

System-wide, graduate school enrollment increased 4.9 percent this fall, from 25,669 to 26,937, while enrollment of undergraduate and professional students were virtually unchanged, both showing a slight dip of 0.3 percent. Undergraduate enrollment decreased by a modest 177 students, from 58,435 to 58,258, and professional enrollment was down by only 18 students, from 5,166 to 5,148.

The U of I System also saw gains among in-state and underrepresented undergraduate students through recruiting initiatives created under its Strategic Framework, a roadmap that sets high-aspiration goals to build on service to students and the public good.

Fall enrollment growth includes a 1 percent increase among in-state undergraduates, from 46,786 to 47,269. The system has made in-state recruiting a priority, seeking to stem an out-migration of Illinois students to colleges in other states. Studies show college graduates tend to stay in the state where they studied, so out-migration is a loss for Illinois and its economy. Illinois residents comprise more than 81 percent of undergraduates enrolled this fall across the system.

Expanded outreach to recruit underrepresented students also helped achieve gains in enrollment of Latinx undergraduates for the 16th straight year and Black undergraduates for the eighth straight year. Enrollment of Latinx undergraduates increased 4.7 percent, from 11,896 to 12,460, while enrollment of Black undergraduates was up 1.2 percent, from 4,147 to 4,196. Combined, Black and Latinx enrollment comprises about 28 percent of the system’s undergraduate enrollment.

Breakdowns for each university can be found in news releases from Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.