Darren Bailey says Illinois' public universities need to educate more Illinois residents

Darren Bailey
A student gazes at Foellinger Auditorium on the University of Illinois quad in Champaign, IL. Photo credit Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey wants to see more Illinois students at the state’s public universities.

“Ensuring our students have access to a great education shouldn’t be controversial, it’s common sense...our state’s schools should be for our state’s students” Bailey said in an online video.

Bailey said if he’s elected he’ll gradually increase the percentage of Illinois students at Illinois public Universities so that it reaches 90% in four years.

Last year, 70% of incoming freshmen were from Illinois.

The University of Illinois’s Associate Chancellor, Robin Kaler, said the goal is to attract a strong, high quality applicant pool with a diverse blend of students. She said the “biggest challenge” is that many would-be students from Illinois can’t afford the tuition.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images