Illinois has a robust number of higher education institutions, including 12 public universities, 48 community colleges, and over 100 independent not-for-profit and proprietary institutions.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education’s strategic plan, known as the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success, encompasses four goals designed to eliminate barriers and foster opportunities for all Illinoisans to achieve their educational aspirations and to build an economically vibrant and competitive state of Illinois:

• Increase educational attainment
• Improve college affordability
• Strengthen workforce development
• Link research and innovation to economic growth.

The Illinois Community College Board demonstrates support of the Illinois Public Agenda through a number of their goals as well:

• Provide high-quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities for individuals
• Smooth non-/traditional student transitions into and through postsecondary education
• Enhance data mechanisms to monitor student progress and performance.

Additionally, Illinois adopted a new attainment goal to increase the proportion of adults with high-quality postsecondary degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.