Dr. Guiyou Huang, President | Western Illinois University
Dr. Guiyou Huang, President | Western Illinois University
At least 9,219 people applied to McDonough County college in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 7,643 students enrolled in the university, including 5,309 in undergraduate and 2,334 in graduate programs. In total 8.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (56%) and Black or African American (22%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Western Illinois University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 7,643 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois University | 9,219 | 6,914 | 7,643 |
Alerts Sign-up