SIU Edwardsville gets record number of fall applications

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - An increase in the number of applicants to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has officials feeling hopeful about enrollment for the coming fall semester.

Admissions officials at the school said freshman applications for fall of this year totaled 10,860, beating a previous record from 2015. The Alton Telegraph reports that the number of total applications is up 21% compared to last year.

'œIncreased interest in SIUE's engineering and nursing programs is driving the application surge along with more interest from St. Louis, Chicago, and both local and rural Illinois students,'ť said Todd Burrell, director of undergraduate admissions. 'œWe've been recruiting many of these students since their sophomore year in high school.'ť

Officials said they will now focus on keeping in touch with applying students as they decide where to attend college.