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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continued a trend of enrollment milestones with a record-breaking class for the fall 2026 semester, marking the third consecutive year the university has tallied its largest-ever first-year class.
Boasting strong academic profiles, the new freshman class predominantly comes from the state of Illinois, with higher percentages of first-generation students and those from low-income households adding to the historic class.
Freshman enrollment increased to 9,332, compared to 9,207 last year, which brought total student enrollment — undergraduate, graduate and online students — to 61,060 students, eclipsing the 61,000 mark for the first time in university history.
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New graduate student enrollment also remained strong, despite significant national uncertainty surrounding research funding, economic conditions and international student mobility. With 6,495 new students (a 5.5% decrease from the previous year) and 20,241 total students pursuing graduate education, Illinois remains a global provider of high-quality graduate education.
"We are excited to welcome all new undergraduate and graduate students as they each begin a unique and meaningful academic journey," said Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. "During a time of change in higher education, it is clear that student interest and demand for an Illinois education continues to be exceptionally strong, reflecting Illinois’ leadership in educational excellence, transformative research and providing a tangible impact for people in this state and beyond."
Freshman applications rose again to 84,833 this year, an increase of more than 1,700 from the previous year and more than 17,000 higher than three years ago. This year’s freshman students from the state of Illinois remained consistent at 6,530. This includes students from 92 of the 102 counties in Illinois, an increase of five counties from 2025. The new class arrives on campus with strong academic credentials, posting an average ACT score of 31.2 and an average SAT of 1487.
Enrollment in online graduate programs increased by 3.7% to more than 9,400 students. These programs include flexible professional master’s degrees, certificates and other educational opportunities designed to serve learners throughout Illinois, across the nation and around the world.
"Students are drawn to Illinois by our exceptional faculty, the scale of our research enterprise and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines," said Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate College. "Those enduring strengths have not changed. We remain committed to supporting our graduate students and ensuring that Illinois continues to be a place where talented scholars from every background can learn, discover and thrive."
Almost 1 in 4 incoming first-year students is a first-generation college student, or 24% of this freshman class. More than 1 in 5 students in the first-year class qualified for a hardship application fee waiver, from a low-income household, which marks a 6% increase from the prior year.
First-generation representation among new graduate students also remained steady at 1,335, or 20.6% of the new graduate student class, while total first-generation graduate student enrollment increased by 6.4% from 3,355 to 3,570, which represents 17.6% of all graduate students at the university.
"Expanding access to higher education is central to the mission of our university," said Provost John Coleman. "We believe talent and potential exist everywhere, and our responsibility is to ensure opportunity does as well. At Illinois, we are committed to helping first-generation students find their place, pursue their goals and contribute their unique perspectives to a campus community where all students are empowered to succeed."
Of the new freshmen, 1,248 students self-identify as Hispanic, 627 self-identify as African American, 103 self-identify as Native American/Alaska Native and 25 self-identify as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
Of the new graduate students, 552 self-identify as Hispanic, up 8.2% from 2025, and 483 identify as African American, up 8.5% from 2025.
The university also welcomed 1,460 undergraduate transfer students, with 67% of those transfers coming from community colleges. First-generation students make up 25% of all transfer students this year. The new transfer class includes 28% from an underrepresented group, a 3% increase from last year.
Other enrollment notes
- The freshman class also includes 1,307 enrolled international students from 56 countries. In total, more than 7,300 international graduate students account for more than one-third of total graduate enrollment, reflecting Illinois’ continued global reach.
- The university’s preliminary undergraduate retention rate is 95%, compared to the national average of 82% for all public universities. The six-year graduation rate is 86%, compared to the national average of 63% for all public universities.
- 93% of recent graduates found a job or enrolled in a graduate or volunteer program within six months of graduation.
