The College of Idaho welcomed one of its largest freshman classes in history and has set a record for the number of international students on its campus, according to the College’s most recent student census report.
The C of I’s 2018-2019 census, completed on Sept. 12, features the fourth largest class of first-year students and the third largest since 2012, featuring 286 first-time freshmen out of the campus’ 964 total students. This continues the campus’ upward trend of new student enrollment, which has increased annually since Fall 2015.
“As word continues to spread about the accessibility of Idaho’s top college, the outstanding education provided by our faculty, and the affordability of a private education where each student matters, we expect these enrollment numbers to continue to rise,” said C of I Co-President Jim Everett. “We congratulate our admissions staff and we are thrilled to provide a top-notch C of I experience to as many students as possible.”
Brian Bava, C of I’s Vice President of Enrollment Management, gave credit to the College’s admissions staff as a whole for their role in increasing new student numbers and said the focus on increasing enrollment for the College has been a team effort to ensure the C of I’s message can be heard.
“It’s gratifying to see how our numbers have grown,” Bava said. “The more students we have on campus, the more ideas can be shared and the more backgrounds can be represented. We still have a lot of work we want to do, and we know there are more students out there that we can reach that we know would benefit greatly from the education C of I provides.”
Another standout statistic for this year’s class is the number of international students on campus: 125 international students from a total of 70 unique countries, including 59 first-year students. This marks the C of I’s largest population of international students ever, who now make up 13 percent of the campus.
The 59 international freshmen students is also twice as large as any international freshman class the College has had, setting a new record for first-year international enrollment on campus.
Bava noted the substantial increase of international influence on the campus since 2005, which only featured a class of 12 students.
“To see the international population on C of I’s campus grow to what it has become is a great opportunity for our students from Idaho to have an international experience without leaving the country,” Bava said. “Our students and our faculty have the chance to engage with students from all over the world and broaden their horizons with new ideas and new cultures.”
The College of Idaho has a 127-year-old legacy of excellence. The C of I is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.