Students will pay $425 more to attend the University of Idaho starting in the fall, marking the largest increase in tuition in three years.
The Idaho State Board of Education approved total tuition and fee adjustments for the state’s public colleges and universities during a special board meeting on April 28. Full-time undergraduates who are Idaho residents will pay an extra $425 for the 2026-27 school year, while nonresident tuition will increase by $664.
UI estimates $4.3 million in net new revenue from the increases, according to Brian Foisy, vice president for the Division of Finance and Administration.
“These are not simple decisions, and they are not made lightly,” Board of Education President Kurt Liebich said. “Our goal is to ensure students have access to high-quality opportunities while maintaining the strength and stability of our institutions.”
“Idaho continues to rank among the top 10 states for college affordability, with tuition increases that have remained below national averages and competitive with surrounding states,” the Board of Education wrote in a news release.
The consolidated mandatory fee, included in the total tuition calculation, increased by $24 for a total of $2,396 per year. The consolidated mandatory fee covers Student Enrollment, Engagement and Success; Institutional Operations, Services and Support; Student Health and Wellness; and Student Government.
In an open forum presentation on March 26, the university initially proposed a tuition increase of $448 per year. UI then requested an increase of $470 in materials submitted to the Board of Education on April 9.
“Tuition, along with our state appropriation and land grant endowments, make up the General Education budget for the university. These funds serve as the source behind the majority of the faculty and staff you interact with as well as education services available to you such as the Library and Advising,” the Office of Budget and Planning wrote in the presentation. “These funds also maintain many of the facilities on campus including academic buildings. This means that tuition plays a key role in ensuring the quality of the education you receive.”
Each tuition increase is as follows:
- Full-time undergraduate residents: $425 increase, $9,825 total
- Full-time undergraduate non-residents: $664 increase, $29,300 total
- Full-time graduate residents: $664 increase, $11,796 total
- Full-time graduate non-residents: $905 increase, $31,273 total
- Part-time undergraduate residents, per credit: $21 increase, $491 total
- Part-time undergraduate non-residents, per credit: $33 increase, $1,465 total
- Part-time graduate students, per credit: $37 increase, $603 total
Dakota Steffen can be reached at [email protected].