Western Illinois University sees slight decline in overall fall enrollment

MACOMB/MOLINE, Ill. — Western Illinois University’s fall 2023 total new student (freshman, transfer and graduate for both Macomb and Quad Cities) enrollment is 2,145, according to 10th-day data released by WIU’s Institutional Research and Planning. Western’s total fall 2023 enrollment is 7,073.

In a press release, WIU president Guiyou Huang said, “Western Illinois University has worked tirelessly over the last year to recruit and retain students. While there is a decline in overall enrollment, we are proud of the progress we have made in continuing to make WIU a place students want to come to and graduate from. I want to personally acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the undergraduate admissions, graduate office and international recruitment teams. Their passion for what they do and our students is what makes WIU what we are.

“I’m so proud of our faculty and staff for the work they put into giving our students successful WIU experiences. We will continue to work hard and collaborate to bring Western into a thriving and successful future.”

Twenty-seven percent of the incoming freshman class carries a 3.9 GPA (grade point average) or above, which has increased 5% from last year. WIU is welcoming 139 new students (freshmen and transfer) into the Honors College, an increase of 30% from the previous year (107 new students). The average GPA of new entering freshmen is 3.40, up from last year’s 3.38 GPA.

“I’m extremely excited about the number of Honors College students who are joining Western this fall,” Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Services Doug Freed said. “We are looking forward to continued increases in the number of high-achieving high school and community college transfers becoming Leathernecks.”

Of the total 7,073 students, 32 percent identified as a minority race/ethnicity, and 56 percent of the incoming class identified as a minority race/ethnicity.

“As I recently stated at our fall assembly, everyone at Western plays a role in student recruitment, retention and success. We are all in this together. We are all advocates for our great university,” Huang added. “Our Macomb, Quad Cities and online programs provide outstanding educational opportunities for everyone. And, once a student enrolls and becomes a Leatherneck, they are a Leatherneck for life.”