SIU Carbondale leaders are calling the Fall of 2021 a success when it comes to enrollment - pointing to the largest freshman class in five years.
Overall enrollment numbers were made official this week - showing the total on-campus student population remained mostly flat compared to last year. The total enrollment stands at 11,266 students, down 100 from last year.
But Chancellor Austin Lane calls that a win - he says it shows enrollment has stabilized and will soon start to grow, as larger freshman classes replace smaller cohorts ahead of them.
This year's freshman class is up 4.5% - to more than 14-hundred new students on campus. Transfers are up, as well, by 3.5% to 1,175.
Retention from last year's freshman class was strong, as well - more than 75% returned for a second year at SIU.
The university's enrollment has steadily dropped for many years, but Chancellor Lane says that decline is over. He says partnerships across the region and through the state, coupled with additional scholarships and the Saluki Commitment for qualified students, have increased the interest in SIUC.
