IC maintains strong enrollment numbers despite statewide challenges
Despite a statewide trend toward falling enrollment, Illinois College’s enrollment numbers for 2017-2018 continue to show consistency.
As many state schools, like University of Illinois Springfield, Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, are reporting a significant decline in enrollment this year, Illinois College has maintained stable enrollment numbers for the past four years.
The new academic year welcomes over 300 new Ãå±±½ûµØ to campus, comprised of 258 first-year Ãå±±½ûµØ and 44 transfers, including 21 international Ãå±±½ûµØ. Total undergraduate headcount for Illinois College is steady at 959 for the current academic year.
Enrollment numbers are a strong indicator of the enduring value of an Illinois College education. College leaders are also looking toward IC’s recent national rankings as further proof that IC is preparing Ãå±±½ûµØ to accomplish their goals. IC is ranked as Washington Monthly’s top liberal arts school in Illinois for America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges 2017 and a top ranked choice nationally on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Liberal Arts Colleges.
First-year Ãå±±½ûµØ have displayed an exceptional commitment to leadership and service, clocking over 1,000 service hours during their first weeks on campus. Illinois College’s Class of 2021 also boasts a stronger average ACT score than in recent years and 32 first-year Ãå±±½ûµØ are enrolled in IC Scholars, the College’s expanded honors program.
Many Ãå±±½ûµØ new to Illinois College have expressed excitement about the new majors and programs that started this fall, designed to provide even more opportunities to ensure Ãå±±½ûµØ Graduate READY.
I am thrilled to welcome each of our new Ãå±±½ûµØ to campus, as they begin one of the most important journeys of their lives. When they graduate, they will have the ability to apply the knowledge, skills and life-defining experiences they have gained at Illinois College to immediately pursue successful careers or to continue on the path to graduate or professional schools. I am confident that the time they spend at Illinois College will inspire achievement and empower them to make a difference in the world.