Higher numbers experienced by higher education across Idaho
Education is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
And first-year college students in Idaho are seeking its benefits, flocking in record numbers to institutions of higher learning throughout the Gem State.
This despite a 5% overall decline in freshman enrollment at colleges and universities nationwide, according to recent figures released by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
On the campus of Boise State University, the crop of first-time Broncos enrolling from Idaho for the fall semester shot up by 11.5%, or nearly 2,200 students. The huge increase in its freshman class pushed BSU’s overall enrollment to an all-time high of 27,500 students, roughly 523 more students than last fall.
“Each new Idaho student who enrolls at Boise State is a testament to our deep commitment to serving our state,” said BSU President Dr. Marlene Tromp. “Idaho has one of the lowest rates for college attendance in the country, and we want to respond to the real need in our state.”
Elsewhere throughout Idaho, freshman enrollment at the University of Idaho for fall 2024 jumped by 8.3%, making it the largest first-year class in the history of the school, and the third record-breaking class in as many years.
Likewise, Lewis-Clark State College reported a whopping 16.5% increase in students seeking a degree for the first time, while Idaho State University welcomed its largest class of first-time undergraduate students in a decade.
Corey Zink, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, said ISU is “incredibly proud” of the enrollment gains taking place on the campus in Southeast Idaho.
“This growth represents a great deal of planning and effort, but it also represents a significant investment in the recruitment and retention of our students,” Zink said.
Total enrollment at ISU now tops 13,000 students, a 3.5% gain over last fall. And with nearly 11,000 undergraduates, ISU is home to the highest number of students seeking a degree since 2016.
Idaho State University in Pocatello, like the other institutions of higher education in the Gem State, is seeing increased enrollment numbers. (PHOTO: DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM)
Undergraduate enrollment at ISU has now moved upward in each of the past four years.
“ISU is going boldly forward in expanding our reach throughout the state by offering important academic programs that serve students in our communities and positively impact the state’s economy and vitality,” President Robert Wagner said.
A “tireless” work ethic and “meaningful” communication is how Zink characterizes the ISU recruitment staff for its efforts in boosting the school’s enrollment numbers.
“Our entire university has collaborated to ensure prospective students across the state know that ISU is a wonderful place to pursue a degree,” he said.
Upward gains in student enrollment statewide also appear to contradict a poll conducted this past summer by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation that revealed only 36% of adults admit to having a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education.
At U of I, the overall number of Vandals enrolled for the fall semester jumped to 12,286, a 3.7% increase that also represents the seventh consecutive semester of enrollment growth in Moscow.
As an added bonus, the school has been ranked five consecutive years as the No. 1 Best Value Public University in the west by U.S. News & World Report, and second overall nationally behind only the University of North Carolina.
“The value of a U of I education is well-known and continues to attract highly qualified students who engage in the Vandal experience to the benefit not only for themselves but also the workforce,” President Scott Green said.
Plus, at the same time, the total of first-time graduate students increased 13.5% over the previous year, enrollment in the prestigious U of I College of Law now stands at 457 students, about 8% higher than last year.
Also in northern Idaho, LC State experienced a 3.5% upswing in the total number of full-time students it now serves. Furthermore, the campus also reported a 2.4% bump in total enrollment, which now stands at just under 3,900 students, the third highest total in school history.
“We’re proud to welcome so many Warriors this fall,” President Cynthia Pemberton said. “They’ve chosen LC State for a high-quality, affordable, small-college experience where they can thrive in our incredible programs and reach their full potential, and that’s exactly what we will deliver.”
Recent data shared by the school indicates enrollment continues to trend upward in multiple divisions campuswide. This includes a 14% uptick in Technical & Industrial students; Business & Computer Science surging 8%; and Nursing & Health Sciences moving up 6%.