SIU Carbondale's Fall 2019 enrollment numbers show a total of 11,695 students on the campus. Even though this represents a decrease of 8.75% from the Fall of 2018, SIUC Interim Chancellor John Dunn points out retention is up. He says 75% of the students have been retained from those who started in the Fall of 2018. Dunn says the data shows that transfer and graduate students stayed flat, and the number of new, first–time students went down by just over 8%.
Dunn said that one bright spot is the average ACT scores of SIU students. Dunn said the ACT scores reported from last fall were the highest in 20 years, and this year's ACT scores are even higher than that.
On other campuses statewide:
- SIU Edwardsville - down 1.6%, with overall enrollment at 13,061.
- Illinois State University - up 1.2%, with overall enrollment at 20,878
- Eastern Illinois University - up 3.7%, with overall enrollment at 7,806
Governor J.B. Pritzker says higher education remains a priority for his administration, and says boosting the budget is one way to help rebuild at SIUC and other campuses.
"For too many years, the state failed to invest in our colleges and universities, delivering a clear message that Illinois’ best and brightest should go elsewhere," Pritzker said. "The historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan dedicates over $139 million to capital improvements at SIU’s Carbondale campus, including a new communications building. Nearly 7,000 more students will receive need-based scholarships and the state’s merit scholarship program increased by 40 percent, helping to make college more affordable for families across the state."
To see more from Chancellor Dunn about the recent enrollment figures, browse to:https://blog.chancellor.siu.edu/enrollment-reflects-increase-in-retention/
