President Dan Mahony, PhD. | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
President Dan Mahony, PhD. | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Of the three institutions in the county, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 9,325 people applied to Madison County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 16,553 students enrolled in the universities, including 13,355 in undergraduate and 3,198 in graduate programs. In total 6.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (71.6%) and Black or African American (12.4%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 12,519 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 9,325 | 9,139 | 12,519 |
| CALC Institute of Technology | -- | -- | 61 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | -- | -- | 3,973 |
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