Press Releases

IBHE Approves Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendations

1/22/2025

Springfield - The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approved a fiscal year 2026 recommended budget that increases funding to continue to support the implementation of the equity-driven higher education strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois.

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New Landscape Analysis of Quad Cities Region Finds Opportunities in Education Offerings and Workforce Development

1/17/2025

Springfield - The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), in partnership with the Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd, released a comprehensive education and workforce analysis for the Quad Cities region, Thrive Quad Cities: An Education and Workforce Analysis Final Report.

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Illinois’ Public Universities Collectively Achieve
Highest Enrollment in Eight Years

10/31/2024

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) released its fall enrollment report for the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Illinois public universities also achieved progress across a range of key variables including:

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Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget Continues Important Investments in Higher Education

06/05/2024

SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the fiscal year 2025 state budget that includes a historic general funds appropriation of $2.6 billion for higher education, an increase of nearly $76 million (3 percent) compared to the previous fiscal year.

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IBHE Announces Recipients of 76 Nurse Educator Fellowships across Illinois

05/02/2024

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded 76 nurse educator fellowships, totaling $760,000, for fiscal year 2024 across the state. The

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IBHE Awards $1.4 Million to Nursing Schools Across the State

03/11/2024

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state - totaling $1.4 million - for fiscal year 2024.

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The Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding Submits New Formula Recommendations to General Assembly

03/01/2024

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding submitted its recommendations report to the Illinois General Assembly.

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The Illinois Board of Higher Education Announced as Winner of The Great Admissions Redesign Challenge

02/29/2024

INDIANAPOLISLumina Foundation has named the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) one of three winners of an implementation grant as part of The Great Admissions Redesign, a competition to revolutionize the admissions process and increase accessibility to higher education for all students.

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Governor Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Makes Important Investments in Higher Education

02/22/2024

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education leaders across the state applaud Governor JB Pritzker’s budget announcement, which includes a fiscal year 2025 higher education budget of $2.55 billion.

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Illinois Private Institutions Receive $400 Million in Capital Grants from the IBHE

01/22/2024

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded $400 million in grants through the Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant Program to 45 institutions of higher education in Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Capital Development Board.

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IBHE Awards $1.7 Million in Grants to Illinois Institutions to Address Student Homelessness

12/21/2023

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded $1.7 million in End Student Housing Insecurity (ESHI) grants to 10 institutions of higher education in Illinois. The funds will be used to support ongoing work at each of the campuses to address systemic causes of homelessness and basic-needs insecurity among students.

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Freshmen Enrollment Increases at Illinois Public Universities for Third Consecutive Year

11/03/2023

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) released its fall enrollment report for the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year showing Illinois, again, beat national trends.

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Fiscal Year 2024 Higher Education State Budget is Largest in Decades

06/08/2023

SPRINGFIELD – The General Assembly passed and Governor JB Pritzker has signed a fiscal year 2024 state budget that includes a historic appropriation of $2.53 billion for higher education, an increase of $279 million (12.4 percent) compared to the previous fiscal year and the largest increase in over 20 years.

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IBHE awards $3.37 million in Early Childhood Faculty Preparation Grants to Illinois institutions

04/06/2023

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded $3.37 million in Early Childhood Faculty Preparation Grants to two public and two private universities to implement programs of study primarily for working adults from diverse backgrounds and those who work with diverse populations interested in becoming early childhood faculty.

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Governor Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Makes Historic Investments in Higher Education

02/15/2023

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education leaders across the state cheer Governor JB Pritzker’s budget announcement today, which includes a fiscal year 2024 higher education budget of $2.47 billion, an increase of $219 million (9.7 percent) compared to the previous fiscal year.

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IBHE awards $10.5 million in second round of GEER grants to Illinois institutions

02/03/2023

SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) have awarded $10.5 million in grants through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) program to 21 institutions of higher education in Illinois.

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IBHE approves fiscal year 2024 budget recommendations

01/19/2023

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approved a fiscal year 2024 budget recommendation that increases funding to support the equity-driven higher education strategic plan adopted in June 2021.

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IBHE increases number of nursing school grants and nurse educator fellowships awarded

01/13/2023

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded 11 nursing school grants, totaling $750,000, and 40 nurse educator fellowships, totaling $400,000, for fiscal year 2023 across the state.

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Fall Freshmen Enrollment Up 5 Percent at Illinois Public Universities as Illinois Bucks Several National Trends

12/21/2022

SPRINGFIELD - Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education released its first look report at enrollment data from the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year.

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