Illinois Community Colleges See First Systemwide Enrollment Increase in More Than a Decade

For the first time since 2009, the Illinois Community College System recorded fall-to-fall enrollment growth.

Statewide, Fall 2022 enrollments increased in both headcount and full-time equivalent from the previous year. The 1.5% increase is well above the national average, which declined by 5.6% in 2021 and remained flat in 2022.

Statewide enrollment data shows 28 Illinois community colleges saw growth in headcount this fall compared to 17 community colleges in Fall 2021.

The report also shows more students a returning to the classroom in 2022, wih a continued strong interest in online classes. Online students accounted for 47.3% of the overall student population in Fall 2022. Similarly, in Fall 2021, online student enrollments represented 56.8% of all students, and in Fall 2020, represeted 61.9%. In contrast, prior to the pandemic, online enrollments represented only 24.3% of the population in Fall 2019 and 23.1% in Fall 2018.