Enrollment numbers released by SIU-C officials show an increase in the number of first-time students.

Officials say the total reflect a 31 percent increase. The university also saw growth in the freshman to sophomore retention rate. This year’s rate is 80.6 percent, the highest in 20 years.

Total enrollment stands at 11,366, a decrease of just 2.8 percent from fall 2019. That represents good news, since enrollment numbers have decreased between 8 and 12 percent in each of the last four years.