High school students

Independent Study in Idaho (ISI) offers flexible, self-paced online college courses that Idaho high school students can take year-round. Courses are sponsored by three accredited institutions: University of Idaho (U of I), Idaho State University (ISU) and Lewis-Clark State University (LC State).

After you complete a course, you can request a transcript from the sponsoring institution and send it to the college or university of your choice.

Cost and funding options

Course cost:

  • $160 per credit
  • $30 administrative fee per course

Advanced Opportunities (AO) funding:

  • Available to eligible Idaho high school students
  • Covers $75 per credit (e.g., $225 for a 3-credit course)
  • Students must pay in full at registration, then request AO reimbursement 

Example cost breakdown:
A 3-credit course such as English 101 costs $510. With AO funding, $225 is reimbursed, leaving a total out-of-pocket cost of $285.

Is ISI right for you?

ISI courses are designed for motivated students who work well independently with minimal instructor interaction.

Before enrolling, meet with your high school counselor to confirm the course format fits your learning style and academic goals.

How to enroll and apply AO funds

Step 1: Meet with your counselor

Step 2: Choose a course

  • Visit the ISI course catalog
  • Make sure the course appears in the Advanced Opportunities course list

Step 3: Register and request funding

  • Create an account in the AO Portal (use Chrome or Internet Explorer)
  • In the AO Portal, under “Funding Requests,” select Independent Study in Idaho as the course provider
  • Submit the ISI Advanced Opportunities form with required signatures
  • Register for the course and pay in full with Visa or Mastercard

Step 4: Access your course

  • You’ll receive a registration confirmation and receipt by email
  • Within six hours, you’ll get a Canvas login email to access your course

Step 5: Receive reimbursement

Once ISI receives AO funding, a refund of up to $75 per credit will be issued to the original payment method.

How to drop a course

Talk with your counselor and parent or guardian before dropping a course. To drop a class, your counselor must email ISI at indepst@uidaho.edu with:

  • Student name
  • Vandal number
  • Course name
  • Reason for dropping