AIAN Data

American Indian & Alaska Native (AIAN) Data at Illinois, 2024-2025

Highlights of new enrollment trends for American Indian & Alaska Native (AIAN) students that underscores how data practices further reduce their visibility on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.

Enrollment Trends

Highlights from 2024-2025

  • Single-Race counts understate reality.
  • Official "American Indian & Alaska Native" race category shows only 21 students in Fall 2025.
  • Actual American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment across levels is 773 students, over 35x larger.
  • Most American Indian & Alaska Native students are classified in the "Multi-Race" category, which itself grew from 1,997 to 2,130 (+6.7%).
Single-Race counts understate reality.
Official "American Indian & Alaska Native" race category shows only 21 students in Fall 2025.
Actual American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment across levels is 773 students, over 35x larger.
Most American Indian & Alaska Native students are classified in the "Multi-Race" category, which itself grew from 1,997 to 2,130 (+6.7%).

AIAN Growth

Highlights from 2024-2025

  • Total American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment increased from 747 to 773 (+26, +3.5%)
  • American Indian & Alaska Native undergrad enrollment increased from 499 to 518 (+19, +3.8%)
  • American Indian & Alaska Native graduate enrollment increased from 234 to 244 (+10, +4.3%)
  • American Indian & Alaska Native new first-time freshmen increased from 2 to 3 (+50%)
  • The only decrease in American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment was at VetMed which declined from 11 to 9
Total American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment increased from 747 to 773 (+26, +3.5%) in 2024-2025
American Indian & Alaska Native undergrad enrollment increased from 499 to 518 (+19, +3.8%) from 2024-2025
American Indian & Alaska Native graduate enrollment increased from 234 to 244 (+10, +4.3%) from 2024-2025
American Indian & Alaska Native new first-time freshmen increased from 2 to 3 (+50%) from 2024-2025
The only decrease in American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment was at VetMed which declined from 11 to 9 from 2024-2025

Campus-Wide Context

Highlights from 2024-2025

  • Overall campus enrollment grew 2.7% while American Indian & Alaska Native grew 3.5%. AIAN outpaced campus growth despite small baseline numbers.
  • American Indian & Alaska Native students represent a much larger and growing population than official race reporting reflects.
  • Recognition and visibility efforts should highlight both absolute growth and the hidden scale of American Indian & Alaska Native identity on campus.
Overall campus enrollment grew 2.7% while American Indian & Alaska Native grew 3.5%. AIAN outpaced campus growth despite small baseline numbers.
American Indian & Alaska Native students represent a much larger and growing population than official race reporting reflects.
Recognition and visibility efforts should highlight both absolute growth and the hidden scale of American Indian & Alaska Native identity on campus.

Did You Know? Campaign Facts

Highlights from 2024-2025

  • Only 21 students are officially listed as "American Indian & Alaska Native", but the true number is 773.
  • That means the American Indian & Alaska Native community is over 35x larger than single-race counts suggest.
  • Most American Indian & Alaska Native students appear under "Multi-Race" or "Hispanic" making their presence less visible in standard reports.
  • American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment grew from 3.5% from 2024-2025, outpacing campus growth.
  • Undergraduate American Indian & Alaska Native students increased by 19 in a single year.
  • The number of American Indian & Alaska Native first-year freshmen grew by 50%.
  • American Indian & Alaska Native graduate students rose 4.3%, highlighting growth beyond the undergraduate level.
Only 21 students are officially listed as "American Indian & Alaska Native", but the true number is 773.
That means the American Indian & Alaska Native community is over 35x larger than single-race counts suggest.
Most American Indian & Alaska Native students appear under "Multi-Race" or "Hispanic" making their presence less visible in standard reports.
American Indian & Alaska Native enrollment grew from 3.5% from 2024-2025, outpacing campus growth.
Undergraduate American Indian & Alaska Native students increased by 19 in a single year.
The number of American Indian & Alaska Native first-year freshmen grew by 50%.
American Indian & Alaska Native graduate students rose 4.3%, highlighting growth beyond the undergraduate level.