Higher education has always been a staple in the U.S. For many students, parents and teachers encouraged them to go, whether it was to a state college or across the country. High schools laid out college plans and helped students fill out their applications. College has always been an option and, if given the opportunity, many have taken that path.
That all changed about ten years ago when a surprising drop in the birth rate started affecting higher education. Since the recession in 2008, there has been a steady decline in the population. Potential students born around that period are graduating high school and have started attending college in 2025.
Other factors, such as colleges becoming more expensive and students no longer seeing the worth in higher education, have influenced what has now become known as the “enrollment cliff.”
According to Forbes, the number of students attending college will go down by 13%, or half a million students, by 2041. Already, 40 colleges have closed or announced their closure, according to a study done by BestColleges.
Despite these numbers and trends, the University of Idaho has not been impacted by this enrollment cliff. According to an article by The Argonaut, UI had its second largest freshmen class in history, totaling 1,980 students. The total enrollment is up by 0.8%, and undergraduate enrollment is up by 3%.
Why has UI seen such success when other institutions are struggling?
For five years, UI was ranked as the number one best value school in the west. According to the U.S. News and World Report, UI is ranked nationally in the top 70 of Best Value schools.
For many potential students, there is the option to receive tuition waivers as part of their financial aid package, such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange, Invitation to Idaho and more, depending on students’ GPA and financial situation.
UI has consecutively supported students and lets them receive a great education for a very reduced price. According to the U.S. News and World Report, UI has a lower national average for in-state tuition at $9,400 versus the national average which is $12,422. Additionally, around 55% of first-year students receive aid, and UI met 62% of students’ financial need through aid.
UI’s continued focus on supporting students, especially focusing on Idaho students and supporting them, has led to an increase in enrollment. While many students across the country are worried that universities’ values now outweigh the price, UI has put an emphasis on keeping the price affordable and showing the value of higher education.
The success of UI proves that students haven’t abandoned colleges entirely; they have simply abandoned the debt that comes with it. Many universities that are worried about the enrollment cliff should take a look at what UI and other successful colleges are doing. The survival of higher education should rest on its original purpose: to provide a great education that is accessible, not just expensive.
Whether higher education likes it or not, the enrollment cliff will continue to rise. Universities can either adapt to it or be forced to close their doors.
Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].