Illinois citizens have a broad array of educational opportunities available through the state's nationally respected system of 9 public universities on 12 campuses, 48 community colleges, 94 independent not-for-profit colleges and universities, and 30 independent for-profit institutions. Enrollments in these institutions have an overall increase – 0.1% -- in fall 2006 to 800,352 compared with the previous autumn, continuing a pattern of stable enrollments in Illinois colleges and universities since the mid-1990s.

Enrollments at public universities increased by 0.2% in fall 2006 to 202,796, according to preliminary headcounts. Community college enrollments dropped 0.7% to 350,292. The number of students at private institutions increased 1.4% in the nonprofit sector, to 213,352, and 1.0% among proprietary institutions, to 33,912. In addition, there were 6,606 Illinois students enrolled in out-of-state institutions with operations in Illinois.

Calculation of a 12-month unduplicated headcount (as opposed to fall enrollment reports) shows more than a million students enrolled in credit coursework at Illinois colleges and universities during the 2005 academic year. A breakdown of 12-month headcounts reveals that enrollments at:

• Public universities declined 1.3% to 234,534
• Community colleges increased 0.0% to 698,971
• Private nonprofit and for-profit institutions rose 1.2% to 304,949

Note: 12-month unduplicated headcounts from out-of-state institutions are not collected.