Eastern’s fall enrollment decline sees similiarities, differences from statewide trends

Eastern’s fall enrollment decline sees similiarities, differences from statewide trends Categories: News Eastern’s fall enrollment decline sees similiarities, differences from statewide trends Luke Brewer, News Editor • October 12, 2026 Olivia Clardy Students walk on the Library Quad on Friday. EIU fall enrollment is the lowest it has been on campus for an entire decade. EIU’s on-campus enrollment dropped 7.52% this semester compared to last fall, with low freshman retention and an increase in first-generation students highlighting the changes. This is the lowest on-campus enrollment has been in the past 10 fall semesters, with 3,778 students compared to last fall’s 4,085. Eastern’s overall enrollment is down 5.62% compared to last fall. This semester saw a total of 7,651 students, including 3,975 undergraduates, 1,185 graduate students and 2,491 high school dual credit students. Eastern had 8,107 students overall last fall. Vice President for Enrollment Management Josh Norman said part of the decline came from international enrollment from fall 2023 dropping from almost 900 students to 185 students and less dual credit enrollment. Norman said plans to improve enrollment for next fall include a focus on student success and the implementation of Navigate 360, a software system that provides tools and support for students and faculty like academic advising and campus alerts. Norman said the consistently dropping enrollment is unfortunate. “That’s gonna happen because once you lose that international population, whether its undergraduate or graduate, you’re losing those students not just for one year, for two years, for four years,” he said. “You lose that class through the following semester and the following semester, and unless you make a major increase in that population or another population, you’re gonna continue to see that number decline until it levels off.” The international enrollment decline mirrors what is happening statewide as the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s 2025-2026 fall enrollment report said overall international enrollment declined 7.9%. IBHE’s report said overall enrollment increased 2.2% compared to fall 2024-2025. The number of freshman also continues to drop as a total of 346 students were lost between fall 2025 and fall 2026. For comparison, 322 students were lost between fall 2024 and fall 2025. Norman said these losses doesn’t mean all of those students are no longer enrolled in some way. “They’re going to be counted as a freshman and then after the transcript it evaluates all dual credit and all of a sudden they’re in the junior class,” he said. Norman also said Navigate 360 will help first-year students persist to continue staying enrolled. According to EIU Public Information Coordinator Josh Reinhart’s press release on enrollment, 53% of the freshman class this semester are first-generation students. The increase stemmed from donors giving specifically to first-gen students, namely through the Panther First Generation Scholarship offering $250,000 this year, according to Norman. “I tell folks all the time when a student crosses the stage at Eastern Illinois University, it’s different because over half of those first-year students are the first in their families to attend college,” he said. “It’s making a legacy for their future family.” Luke Brewer can be reached at [email protected]. View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment Tags: enrollment More to Discover More in News Over 70 vendors attend Small Business Fest at Eastern Student Senate asks university to regulate use of AI by faculty Career Services at Eastern celebrates new space with ribbon cutting Limited access to accessible entrances in Coleman Hall raises concerns  Charleston Fire Department Celebrates Fire Prevention Week at Linder Sports Complex Administrative reorganization announced at EIU president’s fall update About the Contributors Luke Brewer, News Editor Luke Brewer is a junior journalism major and can be reached at [email protected]. He previously served as the news editor. Olivia Clardy, Photo Editor Olivia Clardy is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at [email protected].