News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s enrollment is growing in the face of changing demographics and increased competition for new students. Fall 2025 undergraduate degree-seeking enrollment increased by 5.7%. SIUE’s overall enrollment increased by 7.7% to 12,813 when including continuing, first-time, transfer and early college students. SIUE has outlined intentional efforts to engage high school students early through dual enrollment/dual credit partnerships to strengthen the pathway to college. Early college student enrollment increased to 607 students registered for classes with SIUE compared to 129 students the previous fall term. First-time, first-year student enrollment reached 1,826 compared to 1,534 in 2024, a 19% increase and the second largest total since 2016. New transfer student enrollment continued to rise to a six-year high of 1,165 students, a 20% increase compared to fall 2024. Academic programs in the Schools of Nursing, Engineering and Business experienced the largest growth in enrollment. 

“We have a great team that has worked really hard to grow enrollment despite all of the known environmental challenges. The numbers tell us that the value proposition of a high quality, affordable college degree still has meaning for students. We now have the extraordinary opportunity to serve them. Today, SIUE is the number one producer of bachelor's degrees in St. Louis and in the Metro East. We are powering the workforce of today and these numbers suggest that we will continue to define the workforce in the years to come,” said Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD.

An important part of the university-wide enrollment strategy has been to retain a greater percentage of the students who make the decision to begin college at SIUE. First to second-year retention among domestic students is a contributing factor to SIUE’s overall enrollment growth. Over the past three years, first to second-year retention among domestic students has increased from 75% to 80%. Most notably, first to second-year retention rates among African American students increased from 68% to 80% during that same time, closing the gap in outcomes compared to their peers—an important step towards the institution’s overall student success goals. The University’s efforts to improve advising, direct access to majors and enhanced student engagement opportunities are creating an atmosphere of academic achievement and belonging.

Increased enrollment and improved retention rates among domestic students have been contrasted by declines among international students at SIUE. New graduate enrollment decreased by 15% and the retention rate for international students dropped by 17 percentage points. It is clear that the uncertainty associated with the visa status for many international students is having an impact on graduate program enrollment. University leaders are actively working to fortify international academic partnerships and remain committed to a global learning environment. 

“Our University is achieving noteworthy growth among new and continuing students. This is partly attributed to our efforts to expand the University’s message to more areas across our region, the country and around the world. It is also strengthened by our cohort and support-based retention strategy, which brings greater intentionality to advising and academic engagement with students,” said Andy Benoit, EdD, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management.  

The number of students living on campus is at the highest level since 2017. More than 3,000 students are in residential life facilities at SIUE. Of these students, 1,244 are first-year students, an increase of 28% compared to last year.  

“This is an exciting time to be on our campus, and our students see it and feel it. They want to be a part of it. We have our largest number of students living here in many years, which makes the residential feel of our campus more vibrant,” added Miriam Roccia, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

PHOTO:  SIUE Fall 2025 First-year Students on the Stratton Quad