Overall student enrollment at the University of Idaho fell by a little more than 2.5 percent this fall, compared to a year ago.
The university counts 11,841 students this fall, down from 12,153 students in fall 2017. Overall Idaho resident undergraduate enrollment dropped 3.7 percent, which is consistent with a nine-year statewide trend that has resulted in a decline in first-year resident students at all public four-year institutions.
The state of Idaho’s go-on rate of high school graduates who immediately enroll in college or a career technical program has hovered around 45 percent for the past three years.
Total non-resident undergraduate enrollment is flat this year.
Despite the down numbers, UofI’s student retention remained steady this fall with first-to-second-year retention holding at 81 percent compared to 82 percent in 2017, and 77 percent in 2016. The university continues to look for new and engaging ways to improve retention, including a self-funded grant program this winter to provide seed money for retention initiatives.
Dual-credit enrollment sits at 1,800 this fall, which exceeds the school’s goal of 1,250.
UofI graduate student enrollment increased 4.2 percent overall this fall and by 4.6 percent for first-year graduate students. (University of Idaho)
