Illinois public higher ed enrollment grows, with some caveats

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Enrollment at Illinois public universities hit the highest level since 2015, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, but some schools saw weaker enrollment, and all suffered drops in international student enrollment.

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The IBHE report, released this month, shows enrollment at Illinois public universities grew for the third year in a row, driven by increases in African American and Latino student enrollment.

State funding for public education since fiscal year 2019 increased by nearly $263 million, or 25%. Need-based assistance in the fiscal year 2027 budget jumped 80% from 2019 levels.

The share of students paying no tuition or fees has risen to 44% of in-state undergraduates from 24% in 2018, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said in a release.

“These record enrollment numbers are a testament to our sustained investments in education and our continued commitment to making college affordable, accessible, and attainable for every Illinois student,” Pritzker said in a statement.

“I’m deeply grateful to all the teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and parents who are supporting, empowering, and opening doors of opportunity for the next generation of leaders,” he added.

Female student enrollment grew 0.9% as male enrollment fell 1%, with female students now making up 54.2% of enrollment.

But the overall fall 2026 uptick of 287 students represents only 0.15% growth, and graduate and professional enrollment decreased 3.9%, driven by a nearly 20% decline in international graduate students.

Total international enrollment dropped 14.2% in fall 2026, with undergraduate international enrollment falling 5.8%.

International student numbers declined at all 12 public universities, IBHE said. The biggest losses by headcount were at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois-Chicago, which have the most international students.

“Changes to student visa processing by the federal government … 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,” the governor’s office said.

Some smaller, less high-profile schools also saw weaker numbers, with Western Illinois University’s enrollment plunging 16.7%, or by 890 students in one year. The school’s freshman enrollment shrank to 429 students from 923 in fall 2018, a 53.5% drop, Capitol Fax noted. 

And the pipeline preparing Illinois students for college remains underfunded, analysts said. The K-12 funding gap grew from $3.32 billion in 2025 to $4.38 billion this year, the Illinois State Board of Education recently said, and state-based funding for education has lagged the need, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability’s Ralph Martire said in a recent column.

“The gorilla in the room remains Illinois’ consistent failure to adequately fund K-12,” Martire wrote, calling for a tax hike to close the state’s structural deficit. “The state only covers 27% of all education funding costs, well below the national average of 46%. Meanwhile, local property taxes cover 62% of all K-12 costs in Illinois, while the national average is 42%. This not only makes Illinois an outlier but also drives up property taxes.”

Spokespeople for the governor did not respond to questions by press time. Martire did not respond to a request for comment.