Idaho State University Reports Another Year of High Student Enrollment

This is a slight dip of just 2.7 percent, and represents 377 fewer students this fall compared to last fall. First-time undergraduate enrollment is 1,532.

Current term enrollment looks nearly the same as it did just two years ago in Fall 2024. In the past five years, Idaho State has seen a 10 percent growth, from 12,157 in Fall 2021 to 13,533 in Fall 2026.

This growth has led to the need for additional student housing on ISU’s Pocatello campus. By establishing a public-private partnership with Radnor Property Group to build a 370-bed housing unit, ISU is prepared to offer additional housing options for incoming students who choose to live on campus in the coming years.

University leaders are optimistic that by offering a large number of programs that prepare students for high-demand careers, ISU remains on a path for growth. For every student, the University continues its commitment to support the goals of Idaho students and the workforce needs of the communities it serves. 

The small decrease comes from two primary sources. There were fewer new undergraduate students from Idaho, as the state experienced a 7.7 percent decrease in college applications through the Apply Idaho system. The University also saw a dip in the number of international students.

After a focused effort to grow at ISU’s Idaho Falls campus, Idaho State has seen increased enrollment there, with a 12.5 percent increase in undergraduate students across several programs. The largest growth is in elementary education and nursing programs. The Idaho Falls campus also recently opened the Idaho Falls extension of the Bengal Success Center, a student and faculty support center centralizing numerous support services including academic assistance such as tutoring and other specialized student support services. Bengal Success Center has been operating in Pocatello since March 2025 and has provided over 40,000 individualized services to nearly 8,500 students there in the last twelve months. 

Enrollment in health sciences degree programs remains steady as ISU continues to attract students who will eventually fill vital gaps in the healthcare workforce for the state, and enrollment in degree programs related to professions in the nuclear industry has increased by 13.7 percent. The University serves as a primary talent pipeline for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with more than 1,150 ISU alumni building successful careers within the lab’s varied workforce. Students pursuing various degrees or certificates are finding immediate career opportunities in high-demand areas with INL, like technical operations, nuclear science and engineering, cyber-physical systems, business and accounting, mechanical engineering, health and occupational safety, and cybersecurity.

“Today’s students come from various backgrounds and have unique needs,” Idaho State University President Robert Wagner said. “Some are beginning their higher education journey right out of high school, while others are returning to college after starting families or careers. We must meet them where they are, offering flexible programs, supportive environments and practical skills and knowledge that prepare them for the future.”

Along with ensuring that students have the support and degree pathway options they need to continue their education, the University remains committed to fulfilling workforce needs. New programs such as the Certified Nurse Anesthetist doctoral program, the only in the state, are educating healthcare professionals for high-demand careers. ISU also has plans to offer a radiographic science program at the Idaho Falls campus and expand its dental hygiene program to the Meridian campus in the next few years. 

Last spring, ISU also became the first in the state to offer three-year applied bachelor’s degree programs, developed with industry partners to address Idaho’s workforce challenges. The new degree offerings include: Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Law Enforcement Management and Leadership; Applied Business and Professional Sales; and Intelligent and Trustworthy Digital Systems. These new programs save students time and money by accelerating their time to career entry while maintaining strong connections to employers across the region. 

The Albion Center for Professional Development, which focuses on providing continuing education and professional development for K-12 educators across multiple states, reports enrollment of 2,624 this fall. Also within the Albion Institute, ISU’s Workforce Training programs continue to demonstrate positive growth as well, reflecting an increased focus on workforce development and a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of employers and communities. From fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026, enrollment increased across several key programs, including apprenticeship programs, CPR training, emergency medical technician training, and phlebotomy. Collectively, these four programs experienced an 11.12 percent increase in participation, serving 125 additional students compared to the previous fiscal year. This growth highlights the increasing demand for accessible, industry-aligned training and reinforces ISU’s important role in strengthening Idaho’s workforce and creating pathways to high-demand careers.