UIC Nursing enrolls largest class in history
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Student enrollment at the UIC College of Nursing across all campuses and programs increased by 10% this fall compared to last year, with a total student headcount of 1,810 students, making it the largest group of students educated at UIC Nursing in college history.
Enrollment was up by 11% in UIC Nursing’s traditional bachelor’s degree program – offered on campuses in Chicago, Urbana, and Springfield – with 486 students. With the addition of students in the RN-BSN program, an online program that allows working nurses to get their bachelor’s degrees, this number grows to nearly 1,000, an increase of 16%. Enrollment in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program increased by more than 9%, with 421 students enrolled this fall.
The fall enrollment numbers are based on the university’s recently released 10-day census.
“This growth is a testament to our strategic recruitment efforts and our commitment to expanding access to nursing education across the state,” says Sean Boettcher, UIC Nursing director of enrollment strategy.
Illinois is projected to experience a shortage of 15,000 registered nurses in Illinois by 2025. To address this, UIC Nursing leaders took strategic steps to raise awareness of the nursing profession among high school students by hosting events like “Nurse for a Day,” where students visit campuses, engage with faculty, and experience hands-on simulations.
College leaders also streamlined the admission process, removed barriers, and launched initiatives like the PREPARE program to support student success.
The expanding enrollment is driven by new students, with a 30% increase from last year across all programs. Black student enrollment rose by 30% and Hispanic student enrollment rose by 15%, the results of efforts to recruit and support students of color, who have historically been underrepresented in the nursing profession.
“Our aim is not only to increase enrollment to meet the demands of the nursing profession, but also to ensure that our students receive a top-quality education experience preparing them to become the nurse leaders of tomorrow,” says Liz Aquino, PhD ’13, RN, UIC Nursing associate dean for Academic affairs.
UIC Nursing has six campuses across the state of Illinois in Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana, offering degrees from the bachelor’s to the doctoral level.
Total student enrollment at UIC this fall is 33,906, the second-largest figure in the university’s history and a 1.1% increase over 2023. UIC also welcomed the 2024 first-year student cohort of 4,419 people, its second-largest incoming class ever.
UIC, where more than 50% of students receive Pell grants, continues to invest in initiatives promoting higher education affordability and access. The university recently announced its UIC Aspire grant program, which will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for new UIC students who meet residency and income requirements starting in fall 2025.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse ranked UIC as the top university in Illinois for value and social mobility.