Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, a House representative from Illinois, has criticized the University of Illinois for allegedly neglecting in-state students in favor of out-of-state and international enrollments. He made this statement on the social media platform X.

"BS Governor JB Pritzker," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "Tell this to the thousands of good Illinois students who flee to the SEC because University of Illinois doesn't prioritize IL students. U of I sits around 60% or under for IL students which is pathetic for a land grant university. They won't do it because they make a lot more $ from foreign and out of state students."

According to The Daily Illini, Illinois lawmakers have been debating measures to increase the representation of in-state students at the University of Illinois. This discussion arises amid concerns that the enrollment of out-of-state and international students is limiting access for residents. Student groups argue that the university prioritizes revenue over local admissions, while some legislators are advocating for enrollment caps or reforms. The debate highlights ongoing tensions regarding affordability and equity in public education.

As reported by the University of Illinois System, fall 2024 enrollment across all campuses reached 97,772 students, with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) hosting 59,238 students. Among these undergraduates, 12.8% were from out of state and 13.7% were international students. Consequently, approximately 73% of UIUC undergraduates are residents of Illinois.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education notes that most U.S. land-grant universities maintain an in-state undergraduate enrollment rate between 70–75%. UIUC's estimated 73% in-state share aligns with national norms; however, there are ongoing concerns about increasing nonresident admissions as a means to offset public funding gaps.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Representative Wilhour has served since 2014 and represents a rural southern district. His focus areas include education, agriculture, and state spending. He has expressed concerns about ensuring access for in-state students to flagship universities and serves on the Higher Education Committee.