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Idaho public postsecondary enrollment

89,073

Students enrolled in Idaho public postsecondary institutions, 2025

+4.2% since 2024 (85,477); +19.1% since 2020 (74,779); +23.1% since 2015 (72,360)

Source: Idaho State Board of Education, Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment. Data period 2025. Published . Newest release as of ; next expected by August 2027.

Idaho public postsecondary system-wide fall enrollment headcount, by year.

Comparison

The latest figure, 2025, is the highest in the series, which begins in 2011.

Among 50 states and the District of Columbia, Idaho ranked 38th highest in 2022 on postsecondary enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics. California was highest at 2,486,788 and Alaska lowest at 20,152. The headline figure above is in 2025; this ranking is in 2022.

The largest category in headcount by institution is Boise State University at 28,461; next is Idaho State University at 13,910.

Historical data

Idaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025Idaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025. Idaho: 71,427 in 2011, 89,073 in 2025.050k100k201520202025PeopleIdaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025Idaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025. Idaho: 71,427 in 2011, 89,073 in 2025.050k100k201520202025PeopleIdaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025Idaho public postsecondary enrollment, 2011 to 2025. Idaho: 71,427 in 2011, 89,073 in 2025.050k100k201520202025People

Source: Idaho OSBE, Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment.

Data table (15 rows)
PeriodIdaho (people)
201171,427
201278,288
201374,992
201475,874
201572,360
201674,632
201776,014
201877,221
201978,918
202074,779
202178,295
202278,601
202380,922
202485,477
202589,073

Compared with other states

Every state is compared on postsecondary enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics: NCES IPEDS total fall enrollment at all degree-granting postsecondary institutions (public, private nonprofit, and for-profit) for the nation and every state, at each year Digest of Education Statistics table 304.10 prints (1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, and 2017 through 2022). The headline figure above is in 2025; this comparison is in 2022.

Count

  1. California2,486,788
  2. Texas1,567,017
  3. Utah401,218
  4. Washington311,068
  5. Oregon194,987
  6. Idaho125,249
  7. Nevada113,588
  8. Montana47,134
  9. Vermont39,888
  10. Wyoming29,971
  11. Alaska20,152

Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics.

Data table (52 rows)
State2022
United States18,580,026
1. California2,486,788
2. Texas1,567,017
3. New York1,117,623
4. Florida999,223
5. Illinois677,446
6. Pennsylvania633,991
7. Arizona624,719
8. Ohio612,352
9. North Carolina553,180
10. Virginia546,280
11. Georgia541,594
12. Massachusetts468,960
13. Michigan466,458
14. Indiana436,234
15. Utah401,218
16. New Jersey378,819
17. Minnesota373,128
18. Colorado346,716
19. Missouri333,470
20. Maryland329,092
21. Wisconsin316,129
22. Washington311,068
23. Tennessee308,710
24. Alabama294,009
25. Kentucky261,751
26. South Carolina242,672
27. Louisiana238,689
28. New Hampshire214,537
29. Iowa202,287
30. Oregon194,987
31. Connecticut187,764
32. Kansas185,985
33. Oklahoma184,218
34. Mississippi155,950
35. Arkansas154,781
36. Nebraska134,815
37. West Virginia132,923
38. Idaho125,249
39. Nevada113,588
40. New Mexico110,082
41. District of Columbia99,329
42. Rhode Island74,413
43. Maine71,475
44. Hawaii58,841
45. Delaware57,022
46. South Dakota51,317
47. North Dakota51,074
48. Montana47,134
49. Vermont39,888
50. Wyoming29,971
51. Alaska20,152

Headcount by institution

Idaho public postsecondary fall enrollment headcount by institution and year, category one of Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, North Idaho College, or College of Eastern Idaho.

People

  1. Boise State University28,461
  2. Idaho State University13,910
  3. University of Idaho12,383
  4. College of Western Idaho11,724
  5. College of Southern Idaho10,545
  6. North Idaho College4,662
  7. Lewis-Clark State College4,037
  8. College of Eastern Idaho3,351

Source: Idaho OSBE, Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment.

Data table (8 rows)
Institution2025 (people)
Boise State University28,461
Idaho State University13,910
University of Idaho12,383
College of Western Idaho11,724
College of Southern Idaho10,545
North Idaho College4,662
Lewis-Clark State College4,037
College of Eastern Idaho3,351

Headcount by institution over time

Headcount by institution over timeHeadcount by institution over time. 8 series. Boise State University: 19,664 in 2011, 28,461 in 2025.010k20k30k201520202025Boise StateUniversityIdaho StateUniversityUniversityof IdahoCollege ofWesternIdahoCollege ofSouthernIdahoNorth IdahoCollegePeopleHeadcount by institution over timeHeadcount by institution over time. 8 series. Boise State University: 19,664 in 2011, 28,461 in 2025.010k20k30k201520202025Boise StateUniversityIdaho StateUniversityUniversity ofIdahoCollege ofWestern IdahoCollege ofSouthern IdahoNorth IdahoCollegeLewis-ClarkState CollegeCollege ofEastern IdahoPeopleHeadcount by institution over timeHeadcount by institution over time. 8 series. Boise State University: 19,664 in 2011, 28,461 in 2025.010k20k30k201520202025Boise StateUniversityIdaho StateUniversityUniversity ofIdahoCollege ofWestern IdahoCollege ofSouthern IdahoNorth IdahoCollegeLewis-ClarkState CollegeCollege ofEastern IdahoPeople

Source: Idaho OSBE, Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment.

Source

Organization
Idaho State Board of Education
Dataset
Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment
Geography
Idaho (statewide)
Time coverage
2011 to 2025
Update frequency
Annual
Published
Newest release as of
; next expected by August 2027
Original file
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PSR1_FallSnapshot_2025_Headcount.pdf
Methodology
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/research-data/enrollment-snapshots/
License
Public domain. State of Idaho government work.
Our copy
Fall Snapshot Postsecondary Enrollment

Caveats

  • Value is headcount, a physical person, not full-time-equivalent enrollment.
  • In fall 2012 the enrollment census date changed from the 10th day of term to October 15; earlier years are not restated.
  • Private and out-of-state institutions, and enrollment reported separately as professional-technical-only, are not included.

State comparison:

Organization
National Center for Education Statistics
Dataset
Digest of Education Statistics
Geography
Nation and every state (50 states plus the District of Columbia)
Time coverage
1969 to 2024, at whichever years each of the five source tables publishes; each measure's own span is in its description
Update frequency
Annual
Published
Newest release as of
; next expected by March 2027
Original file
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d25/tables/xls/tabn203.20.xlsx
Methodology
https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
License
Public domain. U.S. federal government work.
Our copy
Digest of Education Statistics

Caveats

  • Higher education enrollment (table 304.10) counts every public, private nonprofit and for-profit degree-granting institution in a state, not just Idaho's public institutions that the State Board of Education counts.
  • Tables 208.40 and 304.10 run through fall 2022, the newest edition of each; table 211.60 runs through school year 2021-22, its newest edition.

Where sources disagree

  • Postsecondary enrollment (NCES), Idaho, 2022: the Idaho State Board of Education publishes 78,601. NCES Digest of Education Statistics table 304.10 (fall 2022 IPEDS enrollment) gives 125,249 for Idaho. The State Board of Education's own fall 2022 headcount is 78,601. NCES's IPEDS-based figure counts every public, private nonprofit, and for-profit degree-granting institution in Idaho; the State Board of Education's figure counts headcount at Idaho's public four-year institutions and community colleges only.

Cite as Understand Idaho, “Idaho public postsecondary enrollment”, https://understandidaho.com/education/higher-education/; cite the publisher above for the figures. See the data catalog.

This page was last updated .