Boise State University has more students this fall than it did fall 2013, but Idaho State University and the University of Idaho have fewer. All three of Idaho’s public universities saw substantial growth during the height of the Great Recession. But for the last few years the trend has been declining enrollment.
Boise State
Total enrollment – 22,259
Idaho’s largest public university grew by a little more than 1 percent after two years of declining enrollment.
University of Idaho
Total enrollment – 11,534
The state’s only land-grant university shrunk by nearly 3 percent this year. That includes a drop in first-year students. University officials are touting growth in graduate students and a 50 percent increase in the number of law students. U of I also boasts the state’s highest student retention and graduation rates.
Idaho State University
Total enrollment – 13,804
ISU saw a tiny drop in overall enrollment, just 41 fewer students. But its freshman class grew by nearly 19 percent. Historically, ISU has had the lowest student retention rate of Idaho’s three public universities. Its graduation rate is roughly on-par with Boise State.
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