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Total enrollment at Illinois public universities reached an 11-year high this fall, but international students have declined significantly due to changes in federal visa review processes, creating a paradox.
Illinois Public university enrollment reached an 11-year high this fall, with more than 190,000 students enrolled at the state’s 12 public universities, marking the third consecutive year of growth. However, while total enrollment increased, the number of international students dropped by a steep 14.2%, which state officials blamed on the federal government.student visa Changes in review procedures.
According to the latest data released by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, a total of 190,114 students are enrolled in 12 public universities across the state in the fall of 2026, an increase of 287 students from last year and a record high since 2015.
Among them, the number of undergraduate students increased by 2,464, an increase of 1.8%, to a total of 136,795. Seven of the state’s 12 public universities increased their undergraduate enrollments compared to the previous year.
In terms of growth rate, Chicago State University’s undergraduate enrollment increased by 15.8%, ranking first in the state; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is in second place with an increase of 10.1%.
The number of full-time new students enrolling at SIUE for the first time increased significantly by 33.3%, indicating that the school has performed well in attracting new students.
New student enrollment also continues to increase statewide, with a total of 27,502 new students enrolled this fall, marking the sixth consecutive year of increase.
From the perspective of ethnic distribution, African-American students increased by 1,608, an increase of 7%; The number of Latino students increased by 1,156, an increase of 3.5%, becoming an important ethnic group driving the increase in public university enrollment.
However, international student enrollment shows the opposite trend. The number of international students at Illinois public universities decreased by 3,147 this fall compared to the previous year, a 14.2% decrease.
Among them, the number of international students in undergraduate and professional degree programs decreased by 19.9%, which is a particularly significant decrease; The number of international students in university departments decreased by 5.8%.
State officials have linked the decline in international student numbers to changes in student visa processing by the federal government. Changes in visa policies and review processes may affect arrangements to study in the United States for foreign students.
Overall, although enrollment of local students and some minorities at Illinois public universities continues to increase, there has been a significant loss of international students, indicating that American higher education institutions still face challenges due to changes in federal immigration and visa policies even as enrollment has improved.
Summary FAQ
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A total of 190,114 students are enrolled in 12 public universities across the state, an increase of 287 students from the previous year, a new high since 2015, and the third consecutive year of increase, indicating that overall enrollment continues to surge.
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The number of students in the university department increased by 2,464, including 1,608 African-American students, an increase of 7%, and the number of Latino students increased by 1,156, an increase of 3.5%. These ethnic groups have become an important driving force for the rebound in public university enrollments.
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This fall, there are 3,147 fewer international students than last year, a decline of 14.2%, and graduate and professional degree programs are down 19.9%. State officials believe changes to the federal student visa review process are the main cause.
