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We’ve been a sorry state for a long time

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* From the New York Times

Declines in state support for public universities have helped reshape the geography of public college admissions, leading many students to attend universities far from home, where they pay higher, out-of-state tuition. An analysis of migration patterns among college freshmen shows the states students leave each year and where they go.

* Keep in mind that this is 2014 data, so it predates the impasse. The situation is likely much worse now. According to the NYT, 2,117 students came to Illinois for public college in 2014 and 16,461 left Illinois for other states. The main exit ramps that year

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:14 am

Comments

  1. Meanwhile, UIUC continues to set records for freshmen enrollment numbers.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:17 am

  2. Well one way to look at this is…our kids are smarter than out of state kids, and the stats demonstrate that. Also, our kids know how much fun an Illinois winter can be.

    Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:23 am

  3. Warthog beat me to it!!!

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:24 am

  4. 10% of UIUC students are Chinese nationals (and how many of those do you think are spies?) and another 10% are foreign nationals of other countries. All to the detriment of children of Illinois taxpayers. The solution: charge all foreign nationals 4x out-of-state tuition. That’ll cure a lot of budget problems. They’ll pay it.

    Comment by TheDopeFromHope Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:25 am

  5. The one thing that would make the biggest difference in our apologetic state: a stable, balanced budget. Yes, there are other reforms needed, and I’ll be happy to supply the details at a later time, after we enter the land of real numbers.

    Comment by Earnest Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:28 am

  6. There is a lot more to deciding on a college than state financial support for higher ed. Illinois has always sent way more students out of state than we get in return. Lots of reasons why, but state support isn’t even in the top ten for most families.

    Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:33 am

  7. I’m sure there are some students that had Illinois on their list but schools like Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, and even Alabama and Kentucky made the choice to leave the state of Illinois all the more easier.

    And, as we all puff our chests as UIUC, it’s Eastern and Western, Chicago State and the SIU campuses that might need more attention.

    I didn’t know closing Illinois universities was a Rauner want… until he told us so by not finding any higher ed.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:33 am

  8. Some colleges in neighboring states offer in state tuition rates to Illinois students. I’m not sure if any colleges in Illinois offer this to out of state students.

    Comment by Stones Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:34 am

  9. I think a lot of kids just want to get out of the state.

    Comment by Ron Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:36 am

  10. ===Well one way to look at this is…our kids are smarter than out of state kids===

    That’s absolutely the wrong way of looking at it. Schools like Iowa State University or University of Iowa have had record enrollment and continue to grow each year. Students from Illinois aren’t taking the places of Iowan students — Iowa’s universities have been specifically targeting Illinois due to concerns about decrease in k-12 student populations for a couple of decades now, and their marketing campaign combined with Illinois poor showing has been effective.

    For the private perspective, a school like Drake University offers significantly less than a lot of major public schools do in terms of curriculum, but they have a decent reputation and they’ll take just about any student that can shell out the tuition and keep them if they avoid flunking out their freshman year.

    It’s not even a prestigious school — but it has it’s act together. (Except for when they did a D+ marketing campaign)

    === fun an Illinois winter can be===

    Which explains perfectly why so many of them are going to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

    Yeesh. Talk about folks who just are unwilling to acknowledge a problem.

    Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:37 am

  11. Agree with Willy some of the campuses are in trouble. But, take a drive to Edwardsville if you want to see what a booming and growing campus and student body looks like.

    SIUE is making the Carbondale campus look like a forgotten backwater of the SIU system.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:37 am

  12. Yep- for my girls U of I is the backup because they have a Navy ROTC program but my Sophomore has her eyes set on UC-Berkley, which ironically also has Navy ROTC. I can’t even say Berkley ROTC with a straight face. My youngest has her sights on the alma mater, Northwestern.

    Comment by Honeybear Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:40 am

  13. I couldn’t wait to leave Illinois the moment I could.

    I returned because of family, but I was 5he only one.

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:41 am

  14. Yep Willy, Alabama is a bastion of higher learning. Now, if you want better weather and more pretty girls, Alabama would be a good choice. Academics????

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:43 am

  15. Give Me A Break- totally correct about SIUE. It’s gorgeous. Grandma takes the girls to music lessons there twice a week. My girls love SIUE but would probably not go there. Living near the parents is not the problem. It’s grandma that I worry about. They’ve got grandma around their finger and she is a bit of an enabler. Not a good combo for college.

    Comment by Honeybear Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:44 am

  16. ===Alabama is a bastion of higher learning===

    Not the whole state, but the big state u is pretty darned good and is attracting a lot of kids. I know some myself who are there or are going. Smart kids, too.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:45 am

  17. - Warthog -

    I dunno, I’d look closely at all the SEC Schools and the monetary commitments each state is committing and where they’re rising, not falling, in academics.

    Plus, when Kentucky tells you to bring your clothes and yourself, we’ll give you a free ride, or Alabama, or Tennessee, or…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:48 am

  18. Illinois State University enrollment is expected to top 21,000 with increases in overall enrollment and freshmen enrollment for the third year in a row. official totals will be based on the 10th day of enrollment which will be next week.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:50 am

  19. I have to wonder what other “Big-10 states” public systems growth rates are.

    The “Big-10 states” are not growing at the rate the “SEC or PAC-10 states” are but I wonder how their state university undergrad numbers compare with the cold weather Big-10 schools.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:53 am

  20. There’s a saying down there; the beauty heads to Auburn and brains head to Alabama. Alabama is an excellent school. They recruit the smartest state scholars nationwide and provide a lot of incentive for them to attend. It’s absolutely on par with Big 10 schools.

    Comment by A guy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 11:53 am

  21. A Guy, actually, that is not the case, not even close. Virtually every Big Ten school ranks higher than Alabama, per US News. For instance, UIUC is 41, Alabama 96

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:00 pm

  22. Third attempt ===

    The Regionals are the ones that are suffering because of the impasse in Illinois, yet there are some good points to be said for these institutions that are being decimated by our Governor and the GA.

    For those students who are capable and able to get into Honors Programs as Freshmen the Regionals can still compete. I am thinking of a half dozen students from my small town that decided recently to stay closer to “home” and complete their undergraduate degrees.

    Four of them are now in Medical School, one is in a PhD program at an Ivy League college and the other completed a MA and has stayed in Illinois.

    My youngest niece could have gone most anywhere she wanted but she chose ISU and will have her MA in 4 years.

    And for these students, the Regionals can and will make it financially easier for those who chose to remain in Illinois.

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:02 pm

  23. It is a no brainer for freshman to look out of state when Iowa, UW Madison, and Mizzou are all more affordable then U of I. Even are regional public universities are having difficultly keeping competitive on costs.

    Comment by Enlightened Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:04 pm

  24. Virtually every adult I know who had kids go out of state presented it as a status, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses thing. It would have been an embarrassment if their B-student child had stayed in state.

    Comment by Redbright Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:08 pm

  25. This info is a little dated, but UW Madison is roughly $1000 less than UIUC for out of state students. I don’t know about Iowa or Mizzou, but can you compare the academics of those 2 schools to Illinois?

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:14 pm

  26. - Warthog -

    How long do you think UIUC will continue at that level with “limited” to no dedicated budgetary funding?

    You brought up Alabama, but look at Kentucky and Missouri too, check the state monetary commitments to those flagship schools and tell me that’s not attractive, and attracts Illinois students, I guess at a rate of 8 to 1 leaving Illinois.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:16 pm

  27. Folks it will only get worse as government spending on pensions will crowd out spending on other services. Public universities are easy targets for cutting. I mean, Illinois currently has the 5th highest state and local tax burden in the nation. I guess we should aim to be #1, right?

    Comment by Ron Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:16 pm

  28. My youngest has his sights set on UIUC, but we’ll see. He is avoiding the regionals (and is not really aware of the crunch they are going through), but might look at ISU or UIC. Not even thinking about out of state schools. There’s one in every crowd, I guess.

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:18 pm

  29. - Warthog - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:14 pm:

    This info is a little dated, but UW Madison is roughly $1000 less than UIUC for out of state students. I don’t know about Iowa or Mizzou, but can you compare the academics of those 2 schools to Illinois?

    Great point. Kentucky and Missouri are second tier schools. UW and UofI are top 50. One who can get into UW or UofI will not pick Kentucky or Missouri. But if you are looking at ISU, Kentucky or Missouri may make sense.

    Comment by Ron Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:18 pm

  30. ===One who can get into UW or UofI will not pick Kentucky or Missouri.===

    Really?

    What do you base that on?

    Are you saying if Kentucky offered a full academic scholarship and UIUC offered nothing in return but semester bills for both tuition and then room and board, that student and parent(s) won’t consider Kentucky a better value?

    Yikes.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:24 pm

  31. Well Willy, Illinois has been embroiled in a budget crises the past 2 years and UIUC has record freshmen enrollment the last 2 years.

    It is MUCH easier to get in to Kentucky and Mizzou than UIUC. Mizzou was the fall back school for many at the high school my kids attended when they got denied at UIUC or were wait listed. At the time, they were offering in-state tuition rates for out of state kids if they attained a certain ACT score and had a certain GPA. Not sure if they still offer it.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:24 pm

  32. =Some colleges in neighboring states offer in state tuition rates to Illinois students. I’m not sure if any colleges in Illinois offer this to out of state students.=

    I believe all the regional universities offer in state tuition to border state students.

    Rauner’s lack of funding to higher ed is sending a very clear message to h.s. counselors and students that he intends to consolidate higher ed in IL. That means less offerings, less opportunity and Illinois will leave behind thousands of students who cannot afford to go out of state.

    Absolutely pathetic!

    Comment by Because I said so.... Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:24 pm

  33. Willy is right === How long do you think UIUC will continue at that level with “limited” to no dedicated budgetary funding? ===

    Yet I just heard on KMOX yesterday that enrollment at Mizzou is down 10% this years.

    @Six Degrees - smart kid - all excellent choices. Good luck!

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:30 pm

  34. ===At the time, they were offering in-state tuition rates for out of state kids if they attained a certain ACT score and had a certain GPA. Not sure if they still offer it.===

    Maybe you should look at that.

    Also, UIUC isn’t the only state university.

    Western may be losing out to Missouri or Iowa State. Eastern might be losing out to Purdue or IU.

    The rub missing in this is the dismissing of some really great universities Illinois as a state has, yet they are losing funding and students, and Illinois is losing students at a 8 to 1 ratio and while UIUC and even ISU have increasing enrollments during the budgetary problems, professors, support staff, administrators may be leaving? What about the national reputation?

    “UIUC is good, great even, but they aren’t getting state funding like… ‘X’… ”

    It’s bad for the state of Illinois.

    It’s not acceptable as a state we decide it’s ok to let Purdue, Michigan State, Missouri, Wisconsin to educate our students because there’s no want or desire to find higher education, and the slippage that may occur, meh, UIUC seems to be holding up ok.

    No. Not acceptable.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:35 pm

  35. Please don’t compare Western to Mizzou and Iowa State. Please don’t compare EIU to IU and Purdue.

    And I am not sure what you are comparing. A kid going to EIU likely can’t afford the 2 Indiana universities and may not be able to get admitted to their desired major.

    Really not sure what point you are trying to make here.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:39 pm

  36. ===Yet I just heard on KMOX yesterday that enrollment at Mizzou is down 10% this years.===

    The Columbia campus has been in the news, not for the right reasons these past 18 months. Wonder if that has had an effect? Asking…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:41 pm

  37. Most students make heart choices not head choices when to comes to college. They make visits and work off of impressions. They visit Illinois Schools and find them wanting. The economics — most parents will do what it takes to help junior go where they want. Students are choosing to go elsewhere because they like the campus or program or friends at Iowa or Wisconsin over Illinois schools.I do not think that Illinois school recruit in the same way they do in other states. My kids got alot more notice and recognition from out of state schools than Illinois schools– even the privates.

    Comment by simple mind Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:42 pm

  38. Willy - totally agree. Mizzou has had a lot of bad press this past year or two. I’m sure that has had an impact.

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:46 pm

  39. ===A kid going to EIU likely can’t afford the 2 Indiana universities… ===

    Whoa. You base this on… What?

    Only the rich should be able to apply to certain schools? Scholarships are lacking?

    There are families that are glad state schools here are options financially, so those families are what exactly?

    ===…and may not be able to get admitted to their desired major.===

    What do you base THAT on?

    The one neighbor kid down the block doesn’t count.

    ===Please don’t compare Western to Mizzou and Iowa State. Please don’t compare EIU to IU and Purdue.===

    Parents are, daily.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:46 pm

  40. To understand enrollment trends at UIUC, we need to know how in-state undergrad enrollment compares year-to-year. We should also look at trends in qualifications, too. I don’t have this data.

    There was a sudden spike in international undergrad enrollment some years back that (based on my unscientific observations) was not at the expense of reduced slots for in-state students. Instead, class sizes simultaneously spiked. It was an attempt to address (pre-Rauner) years of dwindling state funding with additional tuition dollars.

    My point is, “UIUC continues to set records for freshmen enrollment numbers.” doesn’t mean that it isn’t having problems attracting the best and brightest in-state or domestic students. We need more detailed information to check that.

    Comment by X-prof Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm

  41. Simple Mind, what you described is why a school like EIU is in trouble. They lost 23% of their student body between 2010-2014. They weren’t out recruiting much and they didn’t do a great job retaining students.

    That is on the administration during that time period, by the way, Rauner was not guv then. Universities are businesses and they better market, appeal, recruit, etc. They didn’t and now they have a major issue.

    2000 students times $8000 tuition times 5 years = $80 million!!!

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:53 pm

  42. The governor wants to stanch the outflow of businesses to other states by creating a better business climate.

    Why not use the same logic to stanch the outflow of students to other states by creating a better education climate?

    The outflow of smart kids to other states hurts our future. Why does the Governor not recognize this?

    Comment by Scamp640 Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:54 pm

  43. Willy, you are a bright guy who makes great posts on a variety of topics. This is not one of them. Do you think all these scholarships are just low hanging fruit that anyone can grab? They are not.

    You must feel that a kid admitted to the business school at EIU would also be admitted to the business school at IU. Or, someone studying pre-engineering at EIU could have gotten into that program at Purdue.

    What do you base that on??

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:57 pm

  44. - Warthog -

    If Rauner wanted to close Eastern, discredit Western, close Chicago State, and pick which SIU campus should survive…

    … Rauner should’ve ran on those points.

    Starving higher education to passively close state universities is a bust-out schemers way to get a desired result.

    “We fixed… the glitch”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 12:59 pm

  45. One reason for the outflow is that Illinois has a much larger state population but a primary state university campus that is not proportionately larger in size.

    For example, according to Google:
    UW-Madison 43,193 students, 49.2% acceptance rate
    UIUC 44,087 students, 62.4% acceptance rate

    Wisc pop 5.76M versus Ill pop 12.88M

    Why not grow UIUC to 50K-60K students like some of the larger campuses (OSU, Minn, Florida)? State support for this would be required, of course.

    Comment by east central Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:06 pm

  46. As the parent of a Hawkeye, the cost is just about the same as UIUC after merit scholarship. Don’t know how this happens but the new construction at UIowa is shocking (and with another child, we’ve been there for 7 years now). Three new dorms are under construction. Won’t go into details, but everywhere you look there is new construction on campus. Larger freshman classes every year! Each year brings higher credentialed students. In comparison, UIUC looks shameful and I can say that as an alum. Yes,charge international students 4X instate tuition. As someone previously said, they will pay it. Many foreign students on campus at Iowa drive Mercedes, BMWs, Lamborghinis…….doubt it? I’ll have my student send pictures. There is money in that demographic.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:06 pm

  47. @ Warthog:

    I agree that regional universities could have done a better job at recruiting. However, state funding for regional universities has been shrinking for over a decade. Democrats and Republicans share blame in the disinvestment in public higher education. Rauner just accelerated the damage. EIU’s dropping enrollment can at least partially be blamed on the broader disinvestment / higher tuition rates compared to comparable schools in neighboring states. I worry that we are blaming the victim here. Eastern is a really good regional school. It is better than most other regional universities across the Midwest.

    If Illinois would fund its public higher education at levels comparable to surrounding states, Illinois public universities would be just fine.

    To be honest, Illinois public universities should be doing a better job of telling the Illinois electorate that a huge asset that they own is being damaged by the people they have elected. Illinois people should be really angry about this.

    Comment by Scamp640 Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:11 pm

  48. The problem can be looked at in quite different terns as it relates to the quality and reputation of my Alma Mater.

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-08-14/state-budget-taking-toll-recruiting.http

    And, Willy, you are correct, the issue does impact National Reputation.

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:11 pm

  49. As a bit of an aside, I interviewed for a non-tenured administrative position with SIUC that was listed as 75% of FTE and seemed to expect me to spend at least 30 or 40 hours a week in the office. In addition to that, it seemed like they were expecting me to teach a course to masters students (I have a masters myself) without providing any additional compensation.

    It would have represented a decrease in pay from my current employment, but when you factored in having to pay for parking, having to pay out the wazoo for insurance (75% FTE) and the absolute lack of fringe benefits (like a reasonable discount or free access to the SIU Rec) I would have been better off getting a job at the AT&T store in Carbondale selling cell phones.

    One quickly learns that you get what you pay for — so, whoever they hired for that position apparently had worse options than hocking cell phones.

    Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:16 pm

  50. Willy, I see you didn’t read my point about EIU and the 5 year period losing students—sigh.

    East Central—the reason is UIUC is not tOSU or Minny or Florida. I believe a student in Ohio can be admitted to tOSU is they graduate from high school. That’s it, the only requirement. At least, that use to be the case.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:16 pm

  51. Anon @1:06—-When is the last time you were on the UIUC campus? Brand new dorms, brand new apartment complexes, a new business school, a new social work building, very updated sports facilities and I’m sure I am missing improvements on the North side of campus.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:21 pm

  52. As OW points out Mizzou has some big problems. something like 1400 less in the first year class than last year and another 800 from upper classes leaving, 2200 students less, $30 million in the hole. so this issue is undoubtedly more complicated than just looking at one state or one school and numbers. Also, as HRC frequently points out, we need to reclaim the notion that some people don’t want to go that route and they are pursuing other, avenues, often for very good jobs, in the trades and straight computer only field, both fields needed for infrastructure improvements and running plants. the public university system in this state is worth a look for revamping, but it’s not just a one state thing.

    Comment by Amalia Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:25 pm

  53. Current WIU enrollment, Macomb + Quad Cities = 10,251
    Macomb true first year enrollment holding steady (+4 over last year).
    Evidence that these numbers may rise further.
    Intensive recruitment effort has been effective, at least for this year so far.

    Comment by WIUOblivion Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:33 pm

  54. ===Three new dorms are under construction. Won’t go into details, but everywhere you look there is new construction on campus.===

    In fairness to Illinois — a lot of that construction was motivated by flooding that destroyed or rendered unusable several buildings on campus.

    However, University of Iowa is a pretty impressive campus.

    Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:35 pm

  55. It’s not a brain drain it’s flood. How can anybody recruit students to schools that might drop the major the student has an interest in or even close the doors? The same is true for faculty and staff. The good ones are moving to where they have a future. Students are doing the same.

    Comment by Enemy of the State Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:37 pm

  56. The NYT analysis is incomplete and superficial; it attributes migration patterns to a decline in state support for higher ed but presents migration patterns at a single point in time. Illinois has always been a net exporter of college students as there are more college-bound high school graduates than there are admissions slots at Illinois universities (as is true of many other large population states). It’s not possible to tell from the analysis how the pattern has changed in recent years with state funding decline and tuition increases.

    Other states have also seen declines in state support of higher educaton along with increased tuition, it’s not solely an Illinois phenomenon. Some Illinois universities continue to have very stron enrollment demand while others are struggling. It’s not a simple issue.

    Comment by Gopher Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:50 pm

  57. I chose UW over UofI. Madison is a nicer city.

    Comment by Tone Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:51 pm

  58. - Gopher - Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:50 pm:

    The NYT analysis is incomplete and superficial”

    wow, huge surprise

    Comment by Ron Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 1:52 pm

  59. UIowa has had, in fact, to reconstruct some building due to flooding. However, residents pay $8575 tuition and fees. Total estimated cost for one year is $18K+. My child’s tuition and fees at UIUC would be more than 18K as a resident. My point is how can they manage all that is happening at Iowa with what they charge? We know the answer to that!

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:19 pm

  60. UIUC is 41, Alabama 96.

    Now list the other 11 schools in the Big 10.

    Comment by A guy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:19 pm

  61. Anon

    A few buildings are the result of flooding but that construction is complete (flood was in 2008). They are knocking down old dorms and building new as we speak. With resident total cost of attendance at a bit over 18K, how can they manage the costs? My child’s tuition and fees to say nothing of room and board at UIUC would be more than 18K

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:25 pm

  62. #12 NWU
    #29 U Michigan
    #41 UW Madison and UofI
    #47 Penn State
    #52 OSU
    #61 Purdue
    #69 U Minnesota
    #75 Indiana and MSU
    #82 Iowa

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:26 pm

  63. Please add Nebraska, Maryland. If there are ties, it’s likely that Alabama is pretty close to Iowa, MSU and Indiana. I’m a little surprised OSU is so high compared to the other Big 10 schools, and ahead of Purdue.

    Comment by A guy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:34 pm

  64. Maryland 57 and Rutgers 72

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:35 pm

  65. Anonymous at 2:26, you forgot Maryland (#57) and Rutgers (#72) of the Big 10/14.

    Comment by Cromulent M. Biggens Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:38 pm

  66. My two kids both opted to go to a University out of state. They and their friends graduated from one of the top high schools in Illinois. And, I don’t know even one of their friends that went to colleges here in Illinois….

    Comment by JDuc Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:38 pm

  67. A Guy, there are reasons the SEC is so good in football and pretty good in hoops. And one of those reasons is academics.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:39 pm

  68. There has been quite a lot of new construction and building renovation at UIUC in the past few years. Just in the housing area, there is a new 504 bed residence hall opening this fall (Wassaja Hall). http://www.housing.illinois.edu/aboutus/construction . Also new buildings such as the $95 million Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Building that opened in 2014: https://www.ece.illinois.edu/about/buildings/ecebuilding.asp Whether this activity is exceeded at public universities in comparable states, I don’t know, but to say UIUC hasn’t had recent facility growth is not true.

    Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:44 pm

  69. IBHE has been pushing for several years for extra funding to try to get to 60% of the population in Illinois having a degree, up from 43%. Well, they figured out a work around since that obviously isn’t happening, instead of counting “just” degrees they are now counting every piece of paper a school hands out so magically claim that now 50% of the population has a “credential.” Of course, many of these “credentials” are earned by spending only a few hours in a classroom and many do not do anything to improve the life and living standard of those who collect them.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:52 pm

  70. ===… there are reasons the SEC is so good in football and pretty good in hoops. And one of those reasons is academics.===

    Aw, you should start the…

    “That’s alright, that’s ok, you’ll work for us someday”, like Northerstern does.

    - Warthog -

    At first I thought you were pretentious, now you’re just bitter(?)

    LOL

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:54 pm

  71. - Warthog -

    If you want all other Universities closed but UIUC and the other 40 universities above UIUC, just say so already.

    You’re arguing like a child. Bringing in the athletics reflecting academics… Duke and Stanford.

    Capiche?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 2:57 pm

  72. Anonymous@2:52 === please be specific and cite your evidence.

    Comment by illini Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 3:01 pm

  73. Have a great weekend Willy, you just can’t win ‘em all brother.

    Comment by Warthog Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 3:08 pm

  74. OW, Painfully you might want to add Michigan and Notre Dame.

    Comment by A guy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 3:55 pm

  75. - A Guy -

    Agreed, Michigan and Notre Dame. Cal - Berkley too.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 4:01 pm

  76. - Warthog -

    It’s all good, have a good weekend. College Football is just around the corner.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 4:08 pm

  77. IBHE’s Executive Director is interviewing in Florida this week. Partly because of the sorry state of Illinois but also partly because Tom Cross and Beth Purvis are now running the place, even hiring new staff for positions never advertised.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 26, 16 @ 4:39 pm

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