The University of Illinois at Chicago enrolled a record number of students at its campus this fall, continuing a three-year pattern. This is the result of significant increases in new freshmen (23 percent) and transfer students (12 percent), resulting in an overall 8.3 percent increase in the total number of undergraduate students on campus (19,448 from 17,959 in fall 2016). Total enrollment for fall semester, including graduate and professional students, climbed to 30,539, up nearly five percent from last year’s 29,120 students. This is the first time UIC surpasses the 30,000 student mark in its history. The size of the new freshmen class (4,064 from 3,307 in 2016) also surpassed the 4,000 student mark for the first time in UIC’s history. The figures are from the first ten days of classes, the traditional benchmark for enrollment data among U.S. colleges and universities.

This fall’s undergraduate enrollment figure of 19,448 marks a 16 percent increase in enrollments since the fall of 2014 for undergraduate students. Furthermore, the size of the freshmen class has increased by 34 percent since the fall of 2014. Officials say the reason for the increase is that students are recognizing the quality of education at UIC and the value offered for the cost of the tuition. In addition, UIC’s role as the only public research university in Chicago is a draw to all students who want to experience a thriving urban setting and have access to 15 colleges offering a broad spectrum of programs. Among transfers this year were students who had graduated from the City Colleges of Chicago with an associate degree and a 3.0 GPA. They were part of the first cohort of the Star Scholars program who are eligible for multi-year UIC scholarships toward their bachelor’s degree. New undergraduate transfer students increased from 1,958 last year to 2,189 this fall, an increase of 12 percent.

With the increase in enrollment, UIC has continued to be one of the most diverse campuses in the country. In particular, the number of Hispanic students in the freshman class jumped by 27 percent this year with 1,622 students making up nearly 40 percent of the freshman class. The College of Engineering showed the largest enrollment gains, according to figures. A total of 5,140 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in the College of Engineering this fall, an increase of 436 students or nine percent. The College of Business Administration also jumped by 8 percent to 3,888 students.