Urbana, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The University of Illinois system says there is record enrollment at their three campuses to start the 2025-2026 acaedmic year.

According to news releases, as a whole, the U of I system enrollment stands at 101,081, an increase of 3.4%.  Credit is being given to a “substantial increase” in first-year freshmen.

“As the needs of our state grow, the U of I System is proud to continue delivering the world-class education and innovative research that will provide the foundation for our future,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said, in a news release. “This enrollment milestone is a powerful affirmation of the excellence found at our three universities and the value we deliver for students and their families. “

Part of that came from the University of Illinois Springfield campus.  Springfield officials say 312 first-year students are on campus this year, a 19.1 percent increase over last year’s numbers.  Overall enrollment numbers in Springfield, however, are down slightly over last year, sitting at 4,364, compared to 4,628 last year.

“We are pleased to see more first-year students choosing UIS to begin their college journey,” said Janet Gooch, UIS chancellor, in a separate news release. “Through new scholarships like the Prairie Promise Program, innovative academic programs and hands-on experiences such as internships, UIS is opening doors and preparing students for successful careers.”

At UIS, transfer enrollment is up slightly over last year, while international enrollment in both graduate and undergraduate programs declined.  System-wide international undergraduate enrollment was up nearly six percent.  The decline in international enrollment in Springfield is attributed to “hurdles such as visa processing delays, increased documentation requirements, and limited appointments at U.S. consolates, which prevented them from arriving on time,” according to Vickie Cook, UIS vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management,” in a news release.

U of I system data indicates overall transfer student enrollment was up 10.3 percent, in-state undergraduate enrollment was up 5.8 percent, now making up 79.3 percent of the overall student population.  At UIS, undergraduate enrollment increased from 2,309 to 2, 337.  Graduate student enrollment dropped to 2, 027 from 2,319.

At the flagship Urbana-Champaign campus, freshman enrollment was 9.207, a record, compared to 9,008 the previous year.  Overall, that campus has 60,848 students — breaking the 60,000 mark for the first time in school history.

At the University of Illinois Chicago, enrollment is at 35,869 — the largest in school history — up 5.8 percent from 2024.  Of those, 24,260 are undergraduates, 7,341 are graduates, and 4.628 are “professional.”

According to the U of I system, enrollment numbers are based on the 10th day of classes, described as the “traditional benchmark” for colleges and universities.