Last week, the University of Idaho announced a decrease in the overall student enrollment for fall 2013.The 4.9 percent overall decline and 4.2 percent enrollment decline on the Moscow campus specifically is attributed to a number of factors — particularly a 5.6 percent decrease in the number of continuing students.
Total UI enrollment for all of its campuses is 11,884 — down from 12,493 students enrolled in Fall 2012.
Interim provost Katherine Aiken could not be reached for comment on the decline, and university communications and marketing did not provide access to officers in the university enrollment office at this time.
The university reported an increase in first-year students but the increase is minimal — only five more students than the 1,633 who enrolled as freshmen last year.
The overall decline is also attributed to a surge of students who graduated sooner than expected due to a change in the number of credits needed to graduate beginning in 2011.
The numbers did show an increase in graduate students, diversity and national merit scholar enrollment.
University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene saw a 4.8 percent increase from fall 2012 and UI Boise enrolled 3.5 percent more students than last year. UI Twin Falls enrollment remained stagnant at 54 students, and UI Idaho Falls saw a 31.7 percent decline in enrollment from fall 2012.
The full breakdown of university enrollment will be released in the coming weeks. The Argonaut will have continuing coverage as more information becomes available.
Kaitlin Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]