Largest freshman class in history continues to push enrollment growth at U of I

MOSCOW, Idaho — The Fall 2024 freshman class is the largest in the history of University of Idaho and the third record-breaking freshman class in as many years. The 2,025 first-time students enrolled are an increase of 8.3% over Fall 2023. A total of 747 new freshmen are recipients of the new Idaho Launch scholarship.

Overall student enrollment for Fall 2024 is 12,286 students, up 3.7% from the Fall 2023 enrollment of 11,849 students. This increase marks the seventh consecutive semester of enrollment growth at U of I. Retention (first-to-second year) is up 1%, highlighting the results of strategic efforts to help students progress toward degrees.

Undergraduate enrollment is 7,747, up 5.2% over enrollment of 7,363 in Fall 2023. Total enrollment excluding dual credit high school students enrolled in college courses — is up 5.1% to 10,578 students. Other highlights include:

• Idaho resident undergraduate student enrollment increased by 4.9%.
• International undergraduate student enrollment is up 33.9%.

For the fifth year in a row, U of I is ranked as the #1 Best Value Public University in the West by U.S. News and World Report, and second in the nation behind 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,” said U of I President Scott Green. “Our students succeed — in the classroom and, after graduation, in industry.”

Graduate enrollment

New first time graduate students are up 13.5% over the prior year. Total graduate student enrollment is 2,010, up 4.2% this fall from 1,929 students in Fall 2023 and the highest that U of I has seen in the last decade. Doctoral student enrollment is 602, up 10% over Fall 2023, and the highest in U of I history.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

The WUE program provides a tuition discount to students outside Idaho and includes all 16 Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states and regions. Total WUE students in Fall 2024 decreased 0.6% to 1,766, down from 1,776 in 2023. Overall non-resident undergraduate enrollment (including WUE students) is up 5.8% or 146 students over Fall 2023.

“Our students benefit greatly from our deep engagement during recruitment and our strategic retention efforts once enrolled,” said Dean Kahler, vice provost for strategic enrollment management. “We employ every tool we can to ensure our students have the financial, academic and social support they need to persist to graduation and launch successful careers. That reputation attracts new students.”

Law

The College of Law is up 7.8% with 457 students enrolled compared to 424 last year.

Note: Consistent with the Idaho State Board of Education’s guidelines, University of Idaho records fall term enrollment numbers on Oct. 15 of each year and reports those numbers to the State of Idaho and federal officials. Data reflected in this release are as reported to the Idaho State Board of Education.

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Media Contact

Jodi Walker
Executive Director of Communications
University of Idaho
208-885-4295
jwalker@uidaho.edu