The University announced its tenth-day Fall 2025 enrollment statistics Wednesday, revealing a freshman class size of 9,207 — the largest in University history. This represents an increase of 199 students, or roughly 2.2%, as compared to last year’s freshman class.
In total, 83,045 students applied to the University, just shy of 10,000 more applicants than last year. Overall, the acceptance rate of the University for Fall 2025 was 36.6%. The University has become increasingly selective over the past few years, declining from 42.4% acceptance just last year.
“These motivated and ambitious students recognize that Illinois is a uniquely positioned institution with a track record of educational excellence, transformative research opportunities, and real-world impact,” wrote Chancellor Isbell Jr. in a press release.
Over 60,000 students are now enrolled in the University, including undergraduate, graduate and online enrollment. The freshman class makes up just over 15% of the student body.
“This year’s freshman class includes 6,587 students from the state of Illinois, with the percentage at 72%,” the press release read. Last year’s freshman class saw a similar 71% of students hailing from the midwestern state.
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“We continue to attract the most talented, driven students,” wrote Provost John Coleman in the press release.
The freshman class has a mean SAT score of 1442, which would put the average first-year student in the 95th percentile nationally among test takers in the past three years. The University has observed a test-optional policy since the start of the pandemic, indicating that not all applicants necessarily submitted scores.
“This new class of students is arriving in Champaign-Urbana from every corner of the state, taking the first steps toward being the future leaders of Illinois communities,” Isbell wrote.
