Illinois colleges and universities have been under pressure for years from smaller graduating classes, out-of-state competition and changing demographics. Private higher education institutions in the state face the same challenges public schools do, and a couple extra.

Illinois State University freshman enrollment jumped nearly 5% this fall—its largest freshman class in 33 years.

A few years ago, when he was going to Yorkville High School, Matt Pitstick saw college recruiters roaming his school who surprised him and made his friends laugh. They were recruiters from a university more than 700 miles away: the University of Alabama.

On the 21st: We pay a visit to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and a new exhibit called "Stories of Survival.” Plus, we talk about public universities that were hit hard by the budget crisis that lasted more than two years. Are they finally bouncing back when it comes to student enrollment? But first, we revisit a conversation about what's behind the slow but steady population decline in Illinois.

Illinois’ public universities have finished tallying up their student bodies for the new school year, and once again it’s a mix of winners and losers.