For the first time in its history, the student population at Boise State University has exceeded 20,000 students. This trend is due to a long-term growth in international, non-resident, and underrepresented student populations. For the fall semester of 2012, enrollment reached 22,678 students.
BSU’s census comes from enrollment numbers that were reported to the state’s Board of Education on October 15. This all-time high is due in part to the growing number of graduate students, a record 3,021 this year, as well as the inclusion of concurrent high school programs which amounts to 2,178 students.
“Boise State is a place of opportunity that is attracting more high quality students from throughout Idaho and the West due to its strong undergraduate education and its outstanding research and graduate programs… We are serving a full spectrum of educational needs, and our record enrollment reflects the choice these talented students are making to be part of Boise State’s signature educational experience,” said BSU’s President Bob Kustra.
BSU’s overall enrollment shows that 19 percent of non-resident students are from surrounding West coast states, mostly Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Colorado. Underrepresented populations make up about 14.9 percent, and international students account for about 2.7 percent, hailing predominantly from China, India, Nepal, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
“This year’s freshman class is symbolic of the upward trend we have experienced in the past decade to attract more high ability and diverse students to our campus,” said Lisa Harris, Vice President for Student Affairs.
This semester, the university welcomed a total of 2,266 new students. A snapshot look at these incoming freshmen seems like a world of difference from a snapshot that could have been taken just ten years prior. The amount of students coming straight out of high school has risen from just 68 percent in 2003 to 85 percent this fall. Tougher admission standards have attracted more high achieving students to the university. The average high school GPA is now 3.4 for the new incoming freshmen. These new freshman have an average score of 1,065 on the SAT and 23 on the ACT. Full time attendance is up to 95 percent, an increase from 71 percent just a decade ago.
An increasing number of high school students are getting a head start in their college careers before graduation. The university’s concurrent enrollment program provides 33 college level courses in Treasure Valley high school campuses. Students have the ability to earn college and high school credits from this program, mostly in core subjects that can be applied towards degrees at any college.
Prospective BSU students are welcome to visit the campus on January 19 or March 2 for Discover Boise State. The event features a campus tour and several workshops on admission, financial aid, internships and careers, housing, and much more. To learn more, visit admissions.boisestate.edu/discover.
The university will also be offering Blue and Orange Saturdays that will take place November 10, February 9, and March 16, which includes a campus tour and information session. Fabulous Fridays will begin weekly starting on March 29 and going through April 26. To find out more, contact Boise State Admissions at (208) 426-1156, or call toll free at (800) 824-7017 #1.