Defying National Trends, Illinois Tech Breaks Enrollment Records for Third Straight Year

Illinois Institute of Technology has achieved a remarkable 27 percent overall increase in student enrollment over the past three years, building on the university’s highest fall enrollment in more than three decades achieved last fall.

Applications to Illinois Tech have doubled since fall 2021, with a 69 percent increase in first-year applications over the past three years since 2022 and a 35 percent increase since last year alone. First-year admits have also surged, growing by 52 percent over the past three years and 36 percent since last fall, underscoring a solid and sustained interest in Illinois Tech’s education from local, regional, national, and international students. This unprecedented growth solidifies Illinois Tech’s standing as a leader in accessibility, innovation, and academic excellence, delivering on its mission to be an opportunity engine for all and making STEM education accessible for students from all walks of life.

In a challenging higher-education landscape, Illinois Tech’s enrollment growth has consistently outpaced national, state, and regional averages across multiple metrics. According to the latest National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data, Illinois Tech’s enrollment gains stand at five times the national average of 5 percent and nine times the Midwest’s average of 3 percent over the past three years.

This year alone, Illinois Tech saw a more than 3 percent increase in overall enrollment, surpassing national and state trends. The university’s graduate enrollment continues to soar, with a 9 percent increase since last fall, four times higher than the national average​.

Innovative Programs Propel Illinois Tech’s Continued Success

Illinois Tech’s innovative programs and academic offerings have continuously helped improve access to high-quality STEM education amid a challenging long-term higher-education environment. Despite the national trend of dwindling numbers of traditional college students, Illinois Tech’s strategic emphasis on delivering exceptional career value and expanding its reach to a broader base of learners and fresh international markets stands as a beacon against this tide.

Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business has seen a staggering 73 percent enrollment increase since last year, underscoring the demand for its career-focused programs that bridge business and technology.

By seamlessly blending academic excellence with industry-aligned qualifications, Illinois Tech sets a new standard for education, unlocking doors for students from diverse backgrounds.

Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program—a commitment to career readiness offering guaranteed access to a robust suite of co-curricular activities and hands-on experiences focused on preparing students with twenty-first-century skills for career success—contributed to a record-breaking surge in enrollment this semester. Illinois Tech pioneered experiential learning, launching the Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) Program nearly 30 years ago. 

Meeting the Challenge of the Demographic Cliff

In a period marked by declining first-year student enrollment across the country, Illinois Tech is defying expectations. Colleges have long been bracing for an expected dropoff in high school graduates due to declining birth rates, the so-called “demographic cliff.”

The 36 percent year-over-year growth in applications and admits highlights Illinois Tech’s resilience amid ongoing demographic shifts affecting the college-bound population built on a successful strategy of meeting learners where they are and expanding access to learners of all backgrounds.

Illinois Tech: An Opportunity Engine

Illinois Tech’s commitment to access is evident in its first-generation students and the university’s share of students receiving federal Pell Grants, designed to assist students from low-income households. For the Fall 2024 term, 39 percent of all degree-seeking undergraduate students received a Pell Grant. Of the new undergraduate degree-seeking students starting this term, a remarkable 48 percent received a Pell Grant, and 40 percent are first-generation college students. 

“We are proud to uphold Illinois Tech’s mission as an opportunity engine that fosters innovation and progress,” says Mallik Sundharam, Illinois Tech’s vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. “Our success in enrollment growth reaffirms that students recognize the unmatched value of an Illinois Tech education that is career-focused and globally relevant.”

The university has seen a 34 percent increase in eligible Pell Grant recipients as enrollment has increased since the 2021-22 academic year.

Signature programs, such as Discover+ and Illinois Tech Ascend, epitomize the university’s dedication to broadening access to a top-tier education. Both programs saw high demand in their inaugural years, with over 100 participants in Discover+ and over 150 in Ascend. Other Illinois Tech programs, such as Tech+ and Elevate, create career pathways for students to develop multidisciplinary skills and twenty-first-century skills that employers seek. They are the products of partnerships with global industry leaders to ensure every learner can access a high-quality, future-forward education. 

Growth in Hispanic Enrollment

Illinois Tech’s commitment to inclusion is also evident in the significant growth in Hispanic and Latino student enrollment at the university. Over the past three years, Illinois Tech has seen a 30 percent increase in fall undergraduate enrollment of Hispanic and Latino students, now representing 27.3 percent of full-time undergraduate enrollment. 

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, this growth is three times the national average of 10 percent for four-year, nonprofit colleges.

“As someone of Hispanic heritage, I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t attended a Hispanic-serving institution as an undergraduate,” says Illinois Tech Provost Kenneth T. Christensen. “I see the great value of giving communities that have been underrepresented in the past, particularly in STEM, the opportunity to provide that personal and professional transformation.”

Christensen adds, “Any institution committed to training the next generation of the workforce has to keep that promise to these students to serve them. And that means proper support structures. It means creating a culture of belonging on our campus. It means giving all of our students every opportunity to grow and succeed in whatever they choose to do in their professional paths.”

Illinois Tech’s Impact on Student Success and Economic Mobility

Illinois Tech’s efforts to foster economic diversity and support student success have garnered national recognition. There is growing higher-education consensus and recognition of Illinois Tech’s success in improving access and creating opportunity. According to the 2023 New York Times College-Access Index, Illinois Tech ranks #35 on its Top U.S. Colleges with the Greatest Economic Diversity list. Illinois Tech also is ranked #29 nationally for Best Value Schools by U.S. News & World Report 2025.   

“As a private university with a public mission, Illinois Tech has experienced continued demand and enrollment growth that highlights our role as a national leader in delivering education that is both accessible and transformative,” says Sundharam. “Our commitment to career readiness through the Elevate program and partnerships with industry giants are all designed to ensure our students are well-prepared for lifelong success, excelling in their careers and driving meaningful change in the world.”