SIU Carbondale enrollment tops 12,000 for first time in eight years
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
CARBONDALE, Ill., (KBSI) — Enrollment at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has surpassed 12,000 students for the first time in eight years, according to figures released Thursday by the university.
SIU reported 12,066 students enrolled for the fall 2026 semester, an increase of 281 students, or 2.4%, from last fall.
The incoming undergraduate class includes 1,779 students, a 16% increase from last year and the university’s largest incoming first-year class in 11 years.
The number of new undergraduate students from Southern Illinois increased 24%, while overall enrollment among students from the region rose 5%.
Transfer student enrollment increased 7%, and online enrollment grew 14%.
SIU also reported gains in student retention. The percentage of first-year students returning for their second year increased 7.2 percentage points to 73.9%.
Enrollment among Black students increased 14%, Hispanic students increased 8% and Asian students increased 7%. The number of Pell Grant-eligible students rose 5%.
The university also reported a 7% increase in the number of students living in campus housing.
This semester marks the first full implementation of Saluki Start, which allows participating high school students to earn SIU Carbondale credits online at no cost. Nineteen high schools are participating, with 81 students enrolled for fall 2026.
University officials attributed the growth to several recruitment and retention initiatives, including more than 20 “Takeover Tours” organized with the SIU Foundation.
The increase follows a decline of five students in overall enrollment last year. SIU said it has already received more than 1,000 applications for fall 2027.
