Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a research university institution in Carbondale, established in 1869. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university established in 1869 and the flagship campus of the SIU system. With 11,785 students and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, SIU offers over 200 academic programs across seven colleges, including professional schools in law, medicine, and dentistry, alongside strong research partnerships with national laboratories and federal agencies.