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 students to campus, comprised of 258 first-year students and 44 transfers, including 21 international students. 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 students 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 students 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 students are enrolled in IC Scholars, the College’s expanded honors program.
Many students 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 students Graduate READY.
I am thrilled to welcome each of our new students 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.