SIUE 2020 Fall Enrollment Trending Positively
With a focus on quality and affordability, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville foresees a promising incoming freshman class, according to early data for the fall 2020 recruitment cycle.
SIUE freshman applications for fall 2020 have reached an all-time record of 10,860 students. The previous high of 10,735 applications occurred at the end of the recruitment cycle in August 2015.
Applications are up 1,895 (+21%) from a year ago, and admitted freshmen have increased by 1,010 students (+20%). Springboard (freshman registration and orientation program) deposits are running 65 students (+27%) ahead of the same date last year. More than 300 have committed to attending this year compared to 238 (+27%) a year ago. The average ACT for committed students is 24.
The largest percentage increases in Springboard deposits result from students interested in the Schools of Engineering (+55%) and Nursing (+47%). Growth is also coming from Chicago students (+187%), Springfield (+35%), and SIUE’s local region (+27%). Deposits from students with diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are also up 33%.
“Increased interest in SIUE’s engineering and nursing programs is driving the application surge along with more interest from St. Louis, Chicago, and both local and rural Illinois students,” said Todd Burrell, director of undergraduate admissions. “We’ve been recruiting many of these students since their sophomore year in high school. We have also introduced new technology to the recruitment and application process, which has been particularly beneficial for typically underrepresented student populations. Applications from African American students are up 12% and Latinx student applications are up 68%.”
“Our challenge now is to stay connected with applicants and their families as they move through the next 90 days and make their final decisions about where to attend college,” said Scott Belobrajdic, EdD, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. “As a research institution, we are committed to making our academic resources as financially accessible to students as possible.”
Graduate enrollment has increased for the fourth straight spring semester, improving by 177 students (+9%) compared to spring 2019. Graduate enrollment has increased in the Schools of Business (128 students / +52%), Nursing (43 students / +14%), Engineering (14 students / +7.2%), and Education, Health and Human Behavior (19 students / +4%).
International enrollment also continues to grow as 388 international students are enrolled, marking the largest overall headcount since fall 2016. This runs counter to the national trend of decreasing international student access to and interest in U.S. institutions.
With the SIU Board of Trustees proposing a second consecutive year without a tuition increase, SIUE will continue to deliver a high-quality academic experience at a consistently affordable price to its students and their families.
