One of the key strategies to making a great college even better is to build greater demand for a Knox education. Over the last five years, Knox has launched a number of programs and initiatives that have helped the College grow overall enrollment. In fall 2021, President McGadney launched one of his first initiatives, the Prairie Promise, to increase Illinois student enrollment by meeting a family’s fully demonstrated financial need to attend Knox. In its first year, the Prairie Promise resulted in a nearly 20 percent increase in first-year students from Illinois. This past fall, Knox enhanced the Prairie Promise, offering a nationally ranked Knox education 100 percent tuition-free to all qualified Illinois students. Applications from Illinois increased by 23 percent and first-year students from Illinois increased by 16 percent for the fall of 2026.

Additionally, new regional admission counselors in key markets like Chicago, Texas, and Colorado were added, and a strategic reorganization of Admission and Student Financial Services helped better meet the needs of prospective parents and families. New strategic marketing initiatives in Illinois to help raise the College’s visibility in its backyard were launched in 2025, including regional billboards and enhanced media outreach, and, in January 2026, Prairie Fire Athletics announced the addition of women’s flag football to its roster. This addition came amid a national growth in interest in the sport and aligned with College priorities around access,  gender equity, and competitive opportunities. These efforts resulted in Knox’s third-largest class in fall 2024, as well as significant growth in Illinois students by 16 percent and student-athletes by 2 percent in fall 2026. While enrollment challenges remain, these initiatives have kept Knox’s enrollment moving forward despite significant environmental headwinds.