EIU Media Relations

Student success & campus life drive EIU enrollment

Increases in retention, on-campus students, and domestic graduate students amidst FAFSA & visa challenges

(Charleston, IL) – Fall 2024 enrollment at Eastern Illinois University is stable according to University officials following their assessment of the University’s official 10^th-day numbers. Campus leaders cite Eastern’s commitments to student success and retention as essential enrollment supports, reinforced by the largest cohort of students living in campus housing in recent history.

“I’m excited to see the most students living on campus since Fall 2016”, said EIU President Jay Gatrell. “By focusing on Plan 2028 priorities, we will continue to position every single EIU student for future success on our engaging, thriving campus.”

Highlights of EIU’s 2024 fall 10^th-day enrollment report include:

• Room and board contracts saw a 4% increase from 2023 to 2024 with contracts up 14% over the past six years
• An overall upturn in retention rates thanks to specific increases in EIU’s African American population (+6.5%) and Latinx population (+3.1%)
• A 1.4% increase in the retention of first-generation students and a 2.8% increase in students receiving federal Pell grants
• Retention increases for both freshman (+1.7%) and transfer cohorts (+2%) thanks to targeted investments in student support programs
• International students representing 56 countries from around the world
• A new domestic graduate student enrollment increase of 1%

Sweeping changes and unprecedented extended delays to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) presented unique enrollment challenges to higher education institutions this year. As a result, FAFSA completions for 2024 high school graduates were down 9.5% nationally and 10.5% in Illinois as of August 16. The new formula also eliminated a longstanding sibling discount for parents who have more than one child enrolled in college. In response to the difficulties experienced by prospective students and their families, EIU leadership altered policy by extending deadlines for applications, deposits and scholarships to minimize the impact on potential future Panthers and their families. 

“Our enrollment, admissions and financial aid teams deserve credit and recognition for the work they put in every year, but these recent changes were a distinct challenge—especially for our Financial Aid staff,” said Josh Norman, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “I am so proud of what they accomplished, despite the adversity each team faced. To achieve what they did this year is a testimony to their passion for our students and families, and ultimately their future success here at EIU.”

EIU’s Fall 2024 enrollment is 8,505. Despite the FAFSA challenges, the incoming freshman cohort experienced only a minor dip of 30 students. Other factors shaping Fall 2024 enrollment included one of the largest graduating classes at EIU in seven years in 2023-24 and unforeseeable visa dynamics that translated into 217 fewer international students.

“Considering the higher education landscape, we’re pleased with our Fall 2024 enrollment snapshot. Steady, slow and incremental growth in strategic areas that align with our Plan 2028 initiatives will continue to position EIU for the future,” Gatrell said. “It’s clear that Eastern’s proactive, student-centered approach is working. We will remain laser-focused on creating opportunities for our students, the region, and the State.”

EIU’s figures come from the University’s 10th-Day enrollment report—the standard metric for enrollment data tracking in Illinois and the nationally accepted standard for tracking university and college enrollments every semester.

For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.