UIC sets enrollment record for the 7th year in a row

The University of Illinois Chicago has set a record for the largest enrollment in its history for the seventh consecutive year.

Enrollment increased at UIC by 2% this fall to 34,199 from last year’s record of 33,518.

Gains this year were driven by an increase in the overall number of undergraduate enrollment for the eighth straight year. The number of undergraduates rose by 1.6% to 22,279 undergraduates. The increases were fueled by an 18% increase in the number of first-year undergraduates choosing to attend UIC, with 4,177 new freshmen enrolling.

While the number of new transfers dipped by 75 students, to 2,244, it is still the fifth year in a row with more than 2,000 transfers.

The record enrollment was set as learning institutions around the world confronted mandated COVID-19 pandemic safety regulations and also dovetails on years of increasing enrollment for the second largest university in Illinois and the largest in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The figures are based on enrollment from the first 10 days of classes, the traditional benchmark for enrollment data among U.S. colleges and universities.

“Our continued growth for the seventh straight year proves that UIC’s cadre of talented instructors, growing campus and world-class education provides accessible and affordable education that is sought out by a record number of students,” UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis said.

UIC’s aim to increase its campus diversity was bolstered by the new freshman class. Of the 4,177 new freshmen at UIC, the number of Black freshmen students who chose UIC jumped 25%, the largest percentage increase among ethnic groups this year. Latino students showed the largest overall increase this fall (19.5%). This was followed by a 17.2% increase in the number of Asian freshmen students compared with the previous year.

For the first time in six years, the number of graduate school enrollments also grew by a 4.7% increase to 7,789. The number of first-time graduate students jumped by nearly 25% to 2,506 students from last year’s numbers which had seen dips in previous years.

The School of Public Health showed the largest enrollment gains this year. This fall, 988 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the college, an increase of 131 students or 15.2% from last year. The number of combined undergraduate and graduate students also increased in the College of Business Administration by nearly 12.7% or 540 students to 4,774 students. The College of Engineering also showed an increase of 206 combined undergraduate and graduate students with 5,649 enrolled students this year.

About UIC

Located in the heart of one of the world’s great cities, the University of Illinois Chicago is Chicago’s largest university and only public research institution. Its 16 academic colleges serve more than 34,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UIC is recognized as one of the most ethnically rich and culturally diverse campuses in the nation, a leader in providing access to underrepresented students. Around 68% of undergraduates receive financial assistance. With one of the largest colleges of medicine in the nation, and colleges of dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, social work, and applied health sciences, UIC is the state’s principal educator of health professionals and a major healthcare provider to underserved communities. UIC students become professionals in fields ranging from business and engineering to education, liberal arts and sciences, urban planning, law and social work, as well as architecture, design and the arts. UIC is an integral part of the educational, technological, and cultural fabric of one of the world’s greatest cities.