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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Albertson College Rich With Ambition

Associated Press

Albertson College is ingrained in a century of Idaho history, but its future lies beyond the state’s borders.

After nearly closing because of dire financial straits in the 1980s, the Caldwell landmark is soaring into the lists of the best colleges in the West and is getting national attention.

U.S. News and World Report has named the college one of the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges in the West twice in five years.

Albertson President Robert Hendren wants more.

“We want to become one of the top 10 or 20 small private liberal arts colleges in the nation.”

Hendren wants to increase the number of out-of-state students to create a more diverse student body and boost the college’s networking ability nationwide. Now, about 70 percent of Albertson students are Idahoans. Eventually, at least half will be from out of state.

As the school draws more students from outside Idaho’s borders, it will keep a place for in-state students, admissions officials said.

The college wants enrollment to increase from about 700 this year to 1,000. So, even with a bigger share of out-of-state students, about the same number of Idahoans will be enrolled.While Hendren and others at Albertson’s helm say its foundation is firmly planted in Idaho, its future depends on it becoming stronger, wealthier, more widely known and even better respected.

The college’s endowment is five times larger today than in 1988. But Hendren says the current $40 million needs to at least double to support the college in the future.

Its budget has grown by 50 percent in five years, from $7.3 million to $11 million.

Enrollment has grown by nearly 200 students since 1991 and nearly 300 students since 1988.

Since 1990, the college has added 26 full-time faculty to keep class sizes down as enrollment grows.

An activities center, international center and center for the performing and fine arts have been added to the campus since 1991.

Since 1990, tuition has increased by two-thirds, from $8,500 a year to $14,100 a year. But the college also notes that 83 percent of students receive financial aid and the average financial aid package is $9,968.