The University received the largest number of first-year applications in its history for Fall 2025, surpassing last year’s record of 73,742 applicants. The University’s regular decision deadline closed on January 5.
The University will not release the exact number of applicants until the 10th Day Report in Fall 2025, as these numbers are still subject to change. This figure does not include transfer student applicants, whose application period opened today and will close on April 5.
“I can confirm that we have received a record number of first-year applications. We have seen increases in all categories of applicants – Illinois residents, U.S. non-residents and international,” said Dan Mann, associate provost for enrollment management, via email.
The percentage data on the number of applicants the University received this year is still unknown. However, this growth aligns with the University’s recent trend in application numbers. The University’s application counts have risen yearly since 2020, and sharply increased in 2021.
First-year application numbers increased by 33% — from 47,593 applicants to 63,257 — from 2021- 2022, a result of the University transitioning to the Common App for applications.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
From 2022-2023, the number of applicants increased by 6.5%. From 2023-2024, the number increased to 9.4% according to the First Year Enrollment 10th Day Report.
The number of students admitted by the University has also increased. A record 31,247 students were admitted in Fall 2024, and this pattern is likely to continue in 2025.
Coinciding with the rising number of applications is a decrease in the University’s acceptance rate, which has fallen from 63.3% in 2020 to 42.4% in 2024, and will likely continue to decline in 2025.
It is still too early to know how the housing shortage crisis the University faced last Fall will affect admissions decisions. However, Mann stated that Admissions and Housing are already in discussions.
“Conversations have already occurred, and ongoing meetings have been scheduled between Undergraduate Admissions and University Housing staff to avoid the issues that happened last fall,” Mann said.
