SIUE Sets Record with Fall Enrollment; Incoming Class Represents 26.4% Increase Above Previous Year

SIUE Sets Record with Fall Enrollment; Incoming Class Represents 26.4% Increase Above Previous Year

Record enrollment is fueling a historic fall semester at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, led by the largest incoming class in University history and driving overall enrollment to its highest level in more than a decade. Just a few short weeks into the semester, this new class is exploring all that SIUE has to offer, adding vibrancy to the campus and community.

SIUE welcomed 2,323 first-time, first-year students for fall 2026, surpassing the previous University record of 2,126 set in 2014. The record incoming class represents a 26.4% increase from 1838 students in fall 2025 and a 49.9% increase from 1,550 students in fall 2024.

Overall enrollment reached 13,663 students, a 6.6% increase from 12,813 in fall 2025. The increase marks another year of significant enrollment growth for SIUE and continues a multi-year trajectory driven by gains among new first-year, transfer and continuing students.

"The historic enrollment numbers this fall represent a tremendous opportunity for us as a community of educators. These students have made a bold choice about their future with the expectation that SIUE will give them knowledge, skills and credentials needed to realize their dreams. These numbers are also evidence that the value proposition of a high-quality affordable degree opportunity is translating with students and families" said James T. Minor, SIUE Chancellor. "For the last decade, SIUE has been the top producer of bachelor's degrees in the region. Our enrollment growth is a key indicator that SIUE graduates will continue to define the workforce of tomorrow in ways that matter for the success of the entire region," said Minor.

Undergraduate enrollment overall reached 10,932 students, an increase of 10.1% from fall 2025. New transfer enrollment also continued its strong upward trajectory, reaching 1,262 students, an 8.3% increase from 1,165 students last fall and the University's largest fall transfer enrollment since 2017. This growth is driven by 23 Pathway Programs with community colleges and growth in online degree completion programs. "Students and families are taking a hard look at quality, cost and opportunity when choosing a university. Our continued enrollment growth shows that more of them recognize they do not have to compromise on any of the three at SIUE," said Kevin Wathen, EdD, Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management.

SIUE also set all-time enrollment records for both African American and Latinx students, marking a historic milestone for the diversity of the student body. African American student enrollment reached 2,685, a 22.7% increase from 2,188 last fall, while Latinx student enrollment climbed to 977, up 17.6% from 831.

Demand for an SIUE Nursing degree has never been stronger. Undergraduate Nursing enrollment has grown from 1,348 students in fall 2024 to 2,126 in fall 2026, an increase of 57.7% over two years. This fall alone, SIUE added 426 undergraduate Nursing students, a 25.1% increase from 1,700 last year. SIUE is supporting this growth with its new Health Sciences Complex, bringing the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy together with expanded simulation, laboratory and instructional spaces. The investment is increasing SIUE's capacity to prepare healthcare professionals and respond to one of the region's most critical workforce needs. Other areas of undergraduate growth include the School of Business, up 10.8%, and the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, up 8.7%.

Retaining a greater number of continuing students, as a key strategic goal, has been an equally important part of the University's enrollment success. SIUE's first-to-second year retention rate for the fall 2025 cohort is currently 76.9%, compared with 74.8% last fall, an improvement of 2.1 percentage points. This increase means a greater number of SIUE students are continuing their education at the University and remaining on a path to graduation. The progress reflects continued investments in advising, student support, direct access to academic programs and engagement opportunities designed to help students build connections to SIUE and make progress toward a degree.

New domestic graduate enrollment is showing encouraging momentum, increasing 10.1% from fall 2025. This growth provides an important area of strength for SIUE's graduate enrollment, even as overall graduate enrollment declined 6.6%, largely due to a 41.8% decrease in international graduate enrollment.

The impact of SIUE's enrollment growth is visible across campus, including in University Housing. A total of 3,413 students reside on campus this fall, the highest total since 2014. That includes 1,706 first-year students, an increase of 37% from the 1,242 first-year residential students in fall 2025. This is the largest cohort of first-year student residents on record.

"You can feel the energy of this record first-year class living on campus," said Miriam Roccia, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. "Our first-year communities are full of new friendships, late-night study groups, and students discovering who they are becoming. That vibrancy does not happen by accident; our housing and residence life staff are intentional about creating structured support alongside that freedom. When students live on campus, they are more connected, more supported, and more likely to succeed, and this class is proof of that from day one."

A record incoming class, continued transfer growth, significant gains in undergraduate enrollment, increased new domestic graduate enrollment and improved student retention make SIUE an engine of social and economic mobility.

SIUE's strong academic programs and outstanding student experience continue to attract students seeking a transformative educational experience that prepares them to succeed.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Home to a diverse student body, SIUE is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River's rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis. 

PHOTO: Class photo, SIUE fall 2026 first-year students