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��ñ�� continues its powerful growth trajectory, with undergraduate applications up 8 percent, graduate applications up 58 percent, undergraduate admits rising by 18 percent, and graduate admits growing by 66 percent compared to this time last year.

These gains build on a 30 percent surge in undergraduate applications last year, contributing to a sustained four-year boom in enrollment that has seen ���s total enrollment grow by 36 percent, outpacing the national average for private, four-year non-profit universities by nearly 10 times.

Growing demand for ���s opportunity-driven, career-focused education model is fueled by a distinctive promise: students will graduate ready for real-world success with strong post-graduation earnings, meaningful hands-on experiences, and proven upward mobility outcomes.

A Historic Growth Trajectory

Over the past three years, undergraduate applications have increased by 48 percent and undergraduate admits have soared by 59 percent. Leading this surge is the Stuart School of Business, which has seen a remarkable 245 percent increase in undergraduate applications, driven largely by the innovative Tech+ program. This program allows students to pursue interdisciplinary, career-focused degrees by combining high-demand fields such as business with engineering or information technology, making ��ñ�� a top choice for students seeking versatile, future-ready education.

For the coming fall 2025 semester, undergraduate applications for both STEM and non-STEM programs saw increasing demand with:

• Armour College of Engineering grew by 26 percent
• Lewis College of Science and Letters saw a 51 percent jump
• Stuart School of Business posted an additional 27 percent increase

“��ñ��’s sustained momentum underscores our commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world,” says Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. “Today's students are seeking education that translates directly into career opportunity and long-term economic mobility—and they are finding it at ��ñ��.”

��ñ��’s enrollment strategy extends far beyond merely increasing headcount, instead weaving academic support, belonging, and career preparation into every stage of the college experience. The university's “student-first” initiative integrates the student success cycle, including Elevate and a unified advising model. This holistic model, along with the strength of ��ñ��'s STEM degree programs, has boosted engagement, retention, and first-destination success.

Unmatched Enrollment Growth

��ñ��’s enrollment growth over the past three years is unparalleled among its peers. ��ñ��'s total enrollment grew by 36 percent from fall 2021 to fall 2024. In context, benchmarked against the latest data, over the past four years, ��ñ��’s overall enrollment growth was about 10 times higher than the private, nonprofit sector, more than six times higher than all universities nationwide, and nearly 14 times higher than the Midwest regional average.

This exceptional trajectory cements ��ñ��’s leadership as a destination for high-quality, accessible STEM education, where experiential learning pedagogy and a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary programs empower students to apply knowledge in real-world contexts, drive innovation across fields, and prepare for the dynamic demands of today’s workforce.

National Recognition for Opportunity and Outcomes

��ñ�� was recently named an “Opportunity College and University” by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education—the highest possible classification for access and earnings outcomes. According to the Carnegie report, among the 10 institutions awarded in Illinois, ��ñ�� boasts the highest eight-year median earnings ($77,282) and the highest earnings ratio (1.94), reflecting that its graduates earn nearly twice as much as their peers.

“This important national recognition reaffirms what has been at the heart of ��ñ��’s mission for more than 130 years: education as a true engine of opportunity,” says Sundharam. “We are proud to empower students from all backgrounds to achieve transformative success.”

��ñ�� is also ranked:

• #1 in Illinois for Best Salaries of Graduates (Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025)
• #35 in the U.S. for greatest economic diversity (New York Times 2023)
• #29 in Best Value School (U.S. News & World Report 2025)

Career Readiness Through Hands-On Learning

��ñ��'s flagship Elevate program guarantees students access to real-world learning experiences, such as internships, research projects, and study away opportunities. Elevate ensures that every graduate builds an exceptional resume through meaningful, market-driven experiences.

“We all know that learning doesn’t begin at convocation and end at commencement. At ��ñ��, we focus on student success before, during, and long after their time here. We’re redefining what it means to bring true value to students, by building career-ready skills through hands-on experiences from day one. This is more than a moment; it is a movement,” says Sundharam. “��ñ�� is proud to champion a model of higher education that is accessible, transformative, and rooted in the real-world needs of today’s and tomorrow’s global economy.”