Any way you slice it, the incoming class of students at Illinois is one for the history books.

The College of Education's Class of 2028, with 200 first-year students, is the largest in 50 years. This fall's enrollment is a 15% increase from 2023.

Education at Illinois also saw growth in three undergraduate programs: enrollment in Computer Science + Education, Learning and Education Studies, and Secondary Education Mathematics all increased by at least 50%.

Additionally, the number of undergraduate students from under-represented populations increased, with over 30% of the College's undergrads identifying as members of those groups.

“It is exciting to witness history in the making,” said Chrystalla Mouza, College of Education Dean. “This substantial growth in our undergraduate enrollment is evidence that Education at Illinois offers degree programs and scholarly experiences that meet the demands of tomorrow’s educator professionals. We are thrilled to welcome this class of students and guide them in their journey of discovery at the University of Illinois.”

University Welcomes Most New Students Ever

The 2024-25 first-year student class is also the largest in university history. With a freshman enrollment of 9,008, the new class brings record total student enrollment to 59,238, including on-campus and online students. This total includes 37,140 undergraduates and also a record number of 20,765 graduate students.

This year's new first-year students include 6,429 students from Illinois, comprising 71% of the class. More than 1 in 5 incoming students is a first-generation college student, making up 22% of the first-year class. The representation of students who qualified for a financial hardship fee waiver stayed consistent at nearly 1 in 5.

"A hallmark of our great university is excellence at scale, and we are delivering on that statement now more than ever," said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. "We have an impressive track record of not only enrolling students but also ensuring they are making progress, graduating, and going on to careers or graduate programs. We are committed to making sure that continues to be our reality."

Unprecedented Graduate Student Enrollment

The university also welcomed a record number of 7,425 new graduate students, an 18% increase over last year. Enrollment in doctoral programs is up 19%, and enrollment in master's programs is also up 19%. Illinois enrolls 41% of its graduate students in fully online programs and has seen an increasing number of online and other non-traditional learners over the past several years. The Graduate College enrolled its first class of certificate learners in the fall of 2022. In the third year, there has been a 55% increase in the number of new certificate students. Overall, 65.5% of graduate students are enrolled in master's programs, 30.5% in doctoral studies, and 4% in certificate and non-degree programs.

The university's preliminary undergraduate retention rate is 95%, compared to the national average of 78% for all public universities. The six-year graduation rate is 85%, compared to the national average of 64% for all public universities. And 91% of graduates found a job or enrolled in a graduate or volunteer program within six months of graduation.

For more about 2024 student enrollment, view this story from the U. of I. News Bureau...