Illinois State University welcomed 3,374 freshmen to its student body for the 2021-2022 academic year. Total enrollment stands at 20,233.
“Illinois State has returned to a more traditional college experience for the 2021-2022 academic year,” said President Terri Goss Kinzy. “Students are eager to be back on campus. We believe our strong Fall 2021 enrollment numbers reflect the support we have received from students and their families as we have moved forward with our approach to the fall term. The continued robust enrollment shows the confidence people have in Illinois State.”
The University’s total student population includes 17,674 undergraduates and 2,559 graduate students. This fall’s new student enrollment for both first time in college (FTIC) and transfers is up from last year, showing a total increase of 1 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The fall 2021 total enrollment represents a modest 2 percent decline from the last academic year. Official enrollment figures were computed after the 10th day of classes.
“This most recent recruitment cycle presented several unique challenges, and only through the collective effort of our entire campus community were we able to achieve these enrollment outcomes,” said Jana Albrecht, associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “We are excited to welcome such an accomplished and diverse group of incoming students. I commend them for their resilience and hard work, and I am eager to watch this newest class of Redbirds do extraordinary things.”
Illinois State consistently admits students with strong academic profiles. The academic quality of this year’s freshman class has increased further with a high school GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale and an average ACT score near 24. The incoming freshman class also includes more than 447 new students in the Honors Program, the largest incoming class ever.
Illinois State’s student body is becoming more diverse as well, with 35 percent of this year’s freshman class coming from traditionally underrepresented groups. Twenty-eight percent of the total student population comes from traditionally underrepresented groups.
Total Illinois State University enrollment for Fall 2021
Total: 20,233
Freshmen: 3,374
Transfer students: 1,778
Undergraduate students: 17,674
Graduate students: 2,559
International students: 557
