SIU Carbondale Enrollment Tops 12,000 for First Time in Eight Years
Southern Illinois University Carbondale reported fall 2026 enrollment of 12,066 students, a 2.4% increase and the university's highest level in eight years, with its largest incoming first-year class in 11 years.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale has reported one of the most significant enrollment turnarounds in its history, with fall 2026 enrollment climbing above 12,000 students for the first time in eight years.
The university said 12,066 students are enrolled for the fall 2026 semester, an increase of 281 students, or 2.4 percent, over the fall 2025 figure. The growth marks a sharp reversal after a slight decline of five students in overall enrollment last year.
The incoming undergraduate class stands at 1,779 students, a 16 percent increase from the prior year and the university's largest incoming first-year class in 11 years.
Regional and demographic gains
The university also reported broad growth across student populations. New undergraduate students from Southern Illinois increased 24 percent, while overall enrollment among students from the region rose 5 percent. Transfer student enrollment increased 7 percent, and online enrollment grew 14 percent.
Enrollment among Black students increased 14 percent, Hispanic students rose 8 percent and Asian students climbed 7 percent. The number of Pell Grant-eligible students rose 5 percent.
SIU also reported gains in retention. The percentage of first-year students returning for their second year increased 7.2 percentage points to 73.9 percent. Enrollment among students living in campus housing rose 7 percent.
What's driving the growth
University officials attributed the growth to a series of recruitment and retention initiatives, including more than 20 "Takeover Tours" organized with the SIU Foundation.
This semester also marks the first full implementation of Saluki Start, a program that 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.
The university said it has already received more than 1,000 applications for the fall 2027 semester, suggesting the enrollment momentum may continue.
SIU Carbondale sits in Carbondale in Jackson County, in the southernmost part of Illinois. The enrollment growth comes as the university works to expand its footprint in a region where it is a major economic and cultural anchor.