Retention rises as NEIU expands programs tied to workforce demand

CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeastern Illinois University's first-year retention rate rose to 65% this fall, its highest level since 2020.

The rate increased from 60.2% last year, a 4.8-percentage-point gain in one year.

Retention is especially significant at NEIU, where the average student is 26 years old, and many students balance college with jobs, family and other responsibilities.

"NEIU students bring purpose, determination and life experience," President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan said. "Many are working, supporting families and managing responsibilities outside the classroom. Helping more of them stay on track toward a degree with as little debt as possible is an important measure of our progress."

NEIU has made retention a priority by strengthening advising and early intervention, reducing financial and administrative barriers, and making student services easier to navigate. NEIU is launching a new One Stop Center later this year to further improve student support services.

NEIU enrolled 5,674 students for Fall 2026, down 2% from last fall. Students are taking 55,345 credit hours, nearly meeting NEIU's Fall credit-hour goal.

Several student populations posted gains. African American/Black enrollment increased 10% to 782 students, Asian enrollment increased 11% to 524, and White enrollment increased 5% to 1,401.

Among first-year students, 42% identify as Latino/a/x and 30% as African American/Black. The median high school GPA is 3.0.

Transfer students remain a key part of NEIU's enrollment strategy. Forty-one percent of new transfer students identify as Latino/a/x. 

NEIU is also expanding its academic offerings to meet changing workforce needs.

Launched this fall, NEIU's new Doctor of Education in Leadership, Equity and Inquiry in the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education exceeded its inaugural cohort enrollment goal and is preparing educators and administrators to lead change in urban schools and higher education.

A new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in the College of Business and Technology will give students practical, career-focused preparation in AI, data, and emerging technologies for a rapidly changing workforce.

NEIU is developing a Master of Science in Nursing, Entry into Practice for students with bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. The program will feature a mixed-reality simulation lab at El Centro and help address nursing workforce needs in Chicago and the region.

"These programs reflect the direction NEIU is moving," Dr. Bell-Jordan said. "We are responding to workforce demand while continuing to provide accessible, high-quality pathways to degrees that lead to meaningful careers."

NEIU continues to navigate a changing regulatory environment. At the same time, NEIU is focused on improving persistence, strengthening transfer and adult-student pathways, and expanding graduate enrollment.

Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Kiantra D. Loza, who joined NEIU in August, is leading new recruitment and enrollment initiatives focused on removing barriers and improving the student experience.

"Our goal is not simply to enroll students," Dr. Bell-Jordan said. "It is to help them stay, graduate with low debt and use their education to build the future they want."

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on Chicago's Northwest Side. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County.

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SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University