Universities have been faced with navigating significant financial pressures and shifting federal regulations from Washington. Despite that, the University of Illinois Chicago reports record enrollment for the second consecutive year.
Photo: Michael Wysmierski/Pixabay
by Judith Ruiz-BranchPublic News Service
CHICAGO - As doubts about the value of higher education grow nationally, the University of Illinois Chicago is doubling down on affordability and student support and reports record enrollment for the second consecutive year. The school enrolled more than 100,000 students this fall, with undergraduates among Illinois residents up 4.2%. Marie Lynn Miranda, chancellor of the university, said it reflects a commitment to making college accessible while helping students graduate and secure good jobs. One program covers tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students from families earning $75,000 or less. More than half of this fall’s incoming freshmen qualified. “When you're a university that takes access, affordability, accountability very seriously, the things that make people hesitate about higher education feel less overwhelming for a young person and their family,” Miranda explained. Transfer students are also contributing to UIC’s growth, with more than 2,600 enrolling this fall. The university reports strong interest in nursing, business and STEM programs, while working to create pathways for students from community colleges. Nationally, a recent Gallup poll revealed just 31% of Americans consider a college education very important, a record low. Miranda noted the university's racial and socioeconomic diversity is central to its identity. Transfer enrollment grew across several racial and ethnic groups, with the largest increases among Black, Latino and Asian students. But she stressed diversity alone is not enough. The university also works to help students build relationships across backgrounds and find a sense of belonging on campus. “You can have a diverse campus but if you're not helping students get to know people who are different from themselves, then it doesn't matter how much diversity you have,” Miranda underscored. Universities have been faced with navigating significant financial pressures and shifting federal regulations from Washington, which Miranda said takes significant time and energy to address. One example is UIC’s academic health center facing additional challenges from provisions in House Resolution 1, set to take effect in January. The school does not want to make those outside forces a deciding factor for higher education pathways. “We try hard to have a group of people who are focused on those changes and challenges so that most of the people at the university can stay focused on their teaching, on their research, on their engagement with the community, and on their support of students,” Miranda pointed out. While schools like the University of Illinois Chicago report enrollment progress, preliminary national data show undergraduate enrollment is still growing, but at a much slower pace than in fall 2025.
