Southern Illinois University Carbondale Reports Historic Enrollment and Retention Growth

Southern Illinois University Carbondale announced significant enrollment and retention growth for the Fall 2026 semester, reaching over 12,000 students, a level not seen in eight years. The incoming first-year class increased by 16% to 1,779 students, the largest in 11 years. Overall enrollment grew by 2.4% from Fall 2025, with notable increases in Pell-eligible students (5%), Black/African American students (14%), and Hispanic students (8%). The university also saw a 7.2 percentage point surge in its first-to-second-year retention rate, reaching 73.9%.