Fall 2022 total enrollment up 2.5 percent at Western Illinois; freshmen numbers 16.7 percent higher

MACOMB/MOLINE, Ill. — When Western Illinois University’s 12th president Guiyou Huang took the helm of the institution in January 2021, he set forth numerous priorities — one of which was to grow enrollment for the nearly 123-year-old university.

WIU’s total headcount enrollment this fall is up 2.5 percent, including a 16.7 percent increase in freshmen. Total headcount enrollment is 7,643, according to 10th-day data released by WIU’s Institutional Research and Planning.

WIU’s Fall 2022 incoming freshman class increased by 154 (16.7 percent), with 1,074 freshmen joining the university this fall. Students come from 25 states. This is the largest freshman class enrolled at WIU in the last five years, according to IRP data.

The total number of international students enrolling this fall is 1,108, which includes new (420) and returning (688) students. IRP data shows this fall’s international enrollment is a record for WIU. Total graduate student headcount enrollment is 2,334, the largest since 2008.

“As I’ve talked about at many meetings, forums and events, enrollment and retention is everyone’s responsibility. Being there for our prospective students and their families, as well as ensuring the success of our current students, matters and makes a difference. Thanks to the efforts of many individuals and teams, we are continuing to experience gains in our enrollment and are getting closer to reaching our enrollment and retention goals,” Huang said in a press release.

“We’re gaining momentum, and our work continues to actively recruit and enroll new Leathernecks for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023. Our Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, as well as our online programs, provide outstanding educational opportunities for students from all corners of the globe. And once students enroll at WIU, they have the support and tools they need to succeed.”