Enrollment Exodus

Enrollment Exodus

Many public and private institutions of higher education in Illinois have seen student numbers continue to drop over the last decade. Contributing factors include the state's ongoing financial instability, a shrinking population overall, and increased competition from other Midwestern colleges and universities offering lucrative financial aid packages.

Next week, we are unpacking the effect of Illinois students leaving the state for college and what these schools are trying to do to buck the trend. Enrollment Exodus is a week-long collaborative reporting effort by public radio stations across the state.

Special thanks to contributing stations: Illinois Newsroom, NPR Illinois, Tri-States Public Radio, WBEZ, WGLT, WNIJ and WSIU.

Story links will be posted here throughout the week of Sept. 23.

Education Desk

Statewide: Illinois' Enrollment Exodus

Sean Crawford

Many Illinois colleges and universities are struggling to attract and keep students. The problem, along with what some are doing about it, is outlined in…
Enrollment Exodus: Community Colleges Offer Options

Jennifer Fuller

A four-year degree is not the only option for students when they finish high school. But many choose community college in an effort to join the...
Education Desk

Enrollment Exodus: Gaps In Latinx Degree Attainment Persist

Lee V. Gaines

When Francisco Gamino arrived at Parkland College four years ago, he didn’t know how to balance work and find the time he needed to study. “For me, just…
Education Desk

Enrollment Exodus: Why So Many Chinese Students Choose That 'Cornfield' School In Illinois

Dusty Rhodes

International students, especially those from China, play a crucial role in funding the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.How crucial? So crucial…
Education Desk

Enrollment Exodus: What Makes ISU Successful?

Charlie Schlenker, Sean Newgent

Illinois State University had another great recruiting year, with a 1.2% increase in total enrollment and the largest freshman class in 33 years . It's...
Enrollment Exodus: Equity And The Effort To Retain Illinois Students

Peter Medlin

What happens when universities see enrollment plunge year after year? For many Illinois schools, they focus on how to hold on to the students already...
Education Desk

Enrollment Exodus: How Private Colleges and Universities Are Meeting Enrollment Challenges

Charlie Schlenker

Illinois colleges and universities have been under pressure for years from smaller graduating classes, out-of-state competition and changing...
Education Desk

Enrollment Exodus: Public Universities Do More Than Educate Students

Rich Egger

Tammy Yates was excited to come to Macomb seven years ago. Yates and her partner Chad Hunziker opened Chubby's , a restaurant on West Adams Street, just...