A state of diverse interests and people, Illinois is a community
of cultures with a rich history, vast resources and incredible
beauty. Illinois has always been - and remains today - a land of
great agricultural and industrial might, of quiet villages,
vital towns, and world-class cities. But most of all, Illinois
is a state of pioneers for new frontiers. From Abraham Lincoln
to Carl Sandburg, from Jean Baptist Du Sable to Ulysses S Grant,
Illinois has been a leader in producing leaders. How does
Illinois continually meet such a high standard of excellence?
One of the answers comes from Illinois' world-renowned higher
education system.
Ask any students in Illinois' higher education system what they
like best about it, and they are likely to list a myriad of
benefits, from teachers who enjoy teaching to state-of-the-art
facilities, to affordable excellence. Look for an underlying
theme to this variety of answers, however, and you will find
that the thing binding these diverse answers together is just
that: their diversity. This is because the real best thing is
about Illinois' higher education system is simple: what's best
for each student. The predominant benefits of the system are the
choices that allow each student to tailor individual educational
programs to meet their needs, finances and dreams.
Higher education in Illinois is as diverse as the population and
their educational needs. In the fall of 1998, 731,595 students
attended Illinois' 181 public and private colleges and
universities - a student population as varied as the state,
nation and world from which they came. Together, these colleges
and universities offer a full range of educational
opportunities, including nearly 700 bachelor's degree programs,
more than 550 master's degree programs, nearly 200 doctoral
programs, plus professional degrees in law, medicine, veterinary
medicine, and dentistry. In addition, Illinois has one of the
finest community college systems in the United States, charged
with providing workforce preparation for Illinois business and
industry, as well as low-cost pre-baccalaureate and technical
information.
Equally respected affordability and cost-effective standards are
buttresses to this prestigious higher education delivery system.
Recognizing the importance of providing effective cost plans to
international students, many higher education institutions in
Illinois offer in-state or reduced tuition rates to those coming
to America from overseas. Grants (including tuition waivers) are
the largest source of financial assistance in Illinois, followed
closely by loans, a reversal of the national pattern and an
indication of the State's commitment to supporting scholarship
aid, particularly need-based programs. In fact, the Monetary
Award Program in Illinois is the second largest need-based
program in the nation.
In addition to this superior funding system, resources are
allocated where it matters most: the classroom. More dollars are
spent on instruction than any other resource in public
universities, community colleges and private institutions.
Students are exposed to leaders in their respective fields
throughout Illinois' higher education system, but perhaps more
importantly, they are taught by leaders who enjoy teaching.
Emphasis is routinely placed on quality instruction that is
strongly supported by significant funding for research and
student support.
Virtually all Illinois public and private universities and
colleges provide specialized support services for international
students - wherever they choose to study, a broad variety of
specialized programs and services are available to enhance the
educational experience. These services are designed to assist
the international student in making the transition from their
own culture to that of the Midwestern United States, and include
everything from basic immigration documentation to elaborate
orientations, international week activities, international
student housing, and academic support services such as English
as a Second Language.
One of the major areas of support for all students in Illinois
comes in the form of our commitment to cutting-edge technology
that is made available to all students. Illinois is investing
over $90 million over the next three years to develop the
Illinois Century Network, to replace outdated technology with
state-of-the-art systems to improve the quality, usability and
access to a truly high-speed information artery. The Illinois
Century Network will give the State a telecommunications
pipeline so large, so fast, and so reliable that it will make
learning available virtually anytime, anywhere. It will connect
schools, colleges, universities, libraries and museums in a vast
community of learners throughout the State. Campus resources,
from invaluable faculty to innovative supercomputers, will be
made available to all students at any time and in any location.
Illinois also has a plethora of natural resources available for
any student to draw upon. From the top minds in the country to
the top libraries in the world, from sites of natural beauty to
locations of historical significance, Illinois has something for
everyone. From world-class cities with magnificent restaurants,
theaters and activities, to historic main streets and villages,
Illinois has something for you.
But you don't have to take our word for it. You are welcome to
ask any of the 21,000 international students who have chosen
Illinois as their home for higher education, making it the sixth
most popular destination in the country. Or you can explore
Illinois' web page at http://www.state.il.us to find links to
all of Illinois' resources. We're sure you'll find the Illinois
higher education system to be your passport to the future!Illinois citizens have a broad array of educational
opportunities available through the state's nationally respected
system of 9 public universities on 12 campuses, 48 community
colleges, 94 independent not-for-profit colleges and
universities, and 30 independent for-profit institutions.
Enrollments in these institutions in dropped slightly – 0.2% --
in fall 2005 to 799,876, compared with the previous autumn,
continuing a pattern of stable enrollments in Illinois colleges
and universities since the mid-1990s.
Enrollments at public universities increased by 0.9% in fall
2005 to 202,236, according to preliminary headcounts. Community
college enrollments dropped 2.1% to 355,684. The number of
students at private institutions increased 1.3% in the nonprofit
sector, to 208,708, and 4.1% among proprietary institutions, to
33,248. In addition, there were 5,732 Illinois students enrolled
in out-of-state institutions with operations in Illinois.
Calculation of a 12-month unduplicated headcount (as opposed
to fall enrollment reports) shows more than a million students
enrolled in credit coursework at Illinois colleges and
universities during the 2004 academic year. A breakdown of
12-month headcounts reveals that enrollments at:
- Public universities declined 0.1% to 237,684
- Community colleges increased 0.8% to 698,707
- Private nonprofit and for-profit institutions rose 3.5%
to 301,321
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