SIU enrolls biggest freshman class in six years

Southern Illinois University in Carbondale admitted its largest class of freshmen in six years, the university announced recently.

In a release, the university said 1,518 freshmen started classes this fall. It was an increase of 6.8 percent over the previous class.

Chancellor Austin Lane pointed to a recruitment program that has focused on bringing in more students from the local southern Illinois region. He said the result was 2.5 percent more new students from the area, and 3.5 percent more local transfer students.

SIU has a long-term goal of 15,000 enrollment by the year 2030.

Total enrollment this year is 11,107, down 1.4 percent since last year.



(Photo: SIUC Twitter)