Idaho scores low for affordability of universities

BOISE – Idaho’s three public universities saw record or near-record enrollment this fall even as the state received a mediocre rating in a national study on the affordability of higher education.

Despite student fee increases of 8.3 percent again this year, Boise State University posted its eighth straight fall enrollment record at 18,456 while Idaho State University hit a record at 13,623. Idaho State raised fees 7.3 percent.

The University of Idaho, which boosted fees 8.5 percent, stood near its record at just under 13,000 students.

Student fees account for about a third of the basic operating budget for the schools while state support makes up the rest. That combined budget, which totaled about $330 million this year, is augmented by grants, contracts and other financial arrangements the schools pursue individually.

Still, university leaders suggested shrinking financial resources – aggravated by the state’s retrenching in its support for higher education – limited their reach.

Boise State raised its entrance standards again this fall, essentially denying admission to 600 potential students who would have qualified a year ago, because it could not financially carry the extra student load.

“We need to proceed with manageable growth that matches our institutional resources,” President Bob Kustra said. “We desire to provide academic opportunities, quality teaching and support for a growing economy, but we need a well-funded system of higher education.”

He said program improvements have been delayed because “our funding has dwindled in recent years.”

Gary Stivers, staff director for the state Board of Education, said the pressure on the universities reflects the continuing evolution of Idaho’s economy.

“Obviously our economy is making a swing from logging and mining to higher-tech industries and employment that requires higher education, and we’re seeing an increased workload,” Stivers said. “With the demands on the work force of the state changing, we’ve got to have a better educated work force.”

The new report released Tuesday night by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gave Idaho a “D minus” for the affordability of its universities and little improvement from a decade ago. But from a national perspective Idaho residents have a fairly good system compared to those in the 36 states that received failing grades.

In Idaho, college costs amount to 22 percent of average family income, up four points from a decade ago but well below many other states like Oregon where the burden is a third of the average income.

Idaho is faulted for the limited amount of scholarship money it provides based on need. While many states offer 50 percent or more of the amount the federal government makes available, Idaho’s effort equal just 3 percent.

State board spokeswoman Luci Willits agreed that the issue was inadequate need-based scholarships but said the state’s emphasis on limiting student fee increases has kept Idaho from falling into the ranks of the failures on affordability.

“You really walk a tightrope,” Willits said. “If you raise fees too much, you inhibit the ability of the students to go to school, and if you keep them too low, the schools don’t have the revenue to operate.”

The state posted one of the best improvements nationally in the percent of its college freshmen returning for their sophomore year, hitting 65 percent this year, while the percentage of students completing their degrees in six years jumped a third over the past decade to 43 percent.

The state board, Willits said, has been emphasizing along with the schools themselves that “there’s an economic benefit to stay in college.”