A Message from Chancellor Lane

Our academic year is off to a great start, with rising enrollment – for the second year in a row for the first time since 2000 – and a fall full of opportunities for alumni.

We are excited to report that we welcomed 11,790 Salukis this fall, an increase of 3.8% from last year. This is the highest overall boost in the number of students in 33 years and the highest percentage increase since 1987.

This historic accomplishment is not magic or luck. It is the result of strategic and intentional efforts, partnerships with school districts and community colleges, and the diligence and dedication of many Salukis, including alumni and donors like you who have spread the word about the many great things happening on campus.

Since 2020, Southern Illinois University Carbondale has improved accessibility and affordability, removed barriers, provided seamless pathways to a bachelor’s degree for community college graduates, involved alumni in passing on the legacy, and more.

It is too early to know official higher ed enrollment nationwide, but since 2011, public, four-year universities have seen declines in overall enrollment and their freshman classes. Thanks to many Salukis, we are bucking that trend.

We exceeded our goal for fall 2024 and are on a good trajectory to enroll 15,000 students by 2030, one of the objectives of our Imagine 2030 strategic plan.

As we celebrate this fall’s remarkable success, plans for fall 2025 are well underway. Enrollment is a serious, year-round competition, and we love to compete.

If you have a child in the college search, consider your alma mater. We offer rare opportunities, including the chance to participate in research often reserved for graduate students elsewhere, and several of our academic programs are the only ones of their kind in the state and among only a few in the nation. Plus, our campus and our region are just as beautiful as you remember.

Children of SIU Carbondale graduates may also qualify for the Legacy Tuition Rate, a 20% discount on tuition. In addition, we have eliminated out-of-state tuition for U.S. students, and new and transfer students from Illinois who meet certain criteria are eligible for the Saluki Commitment, our pledge to close financial gaps between tuition and mandatory fees and financial aid.

If your child applies for undergraduate admission before Oct. 31, we will waive the application fee.

In addition, we are celebrating the renaming of our school of law to Simmons Law School and the start of construction on the Tedrick Welcome Center.

This fall also offers many ways for you to be involved with your alma mater, whether it’s here in Carbondale or elsewhere.

Whether you join us on campus or while we’re on a Saluki Takeover Tour, I hope to see you soon and talk about the great things going on at SIU Carbondale and why more students are choosing to become Salukis.

Go Dawgs!

Chancellor Austin A. Lane