Angie Barnard Executive Director at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Official website
Angie Barnard Executive Director at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Official website
Of the three institutions in the county, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 63,257 people applied to Champaign County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 62,744 students enrolled in the universities, including 40,948 in undergraduate and 21,796 in graduate programs. Only 2.5% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (41.8%) and Asian (19.7%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 56,916 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture | -- | -- | 142 |
| Parkland College | -- | -- | 5,686 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 63,257 | 28,466 | 56,916 |
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