With 28,519 students enrolled for this fall, 2025 marks another year for record-breaking enrollment at Boise State.
First-time undergraduate student enrollment saw a 14.7% increase, making this the largest incoming freshmen class in Boise State’s history. Of these first-year students, a record of 2,295 in-state students enrolled.
Executive Director of Admissions and New Student Programs, Kelly Talbert, said in recent years, the university shifted its efforts to recruiting Idaho students, specifically in Eastern and Northern Idaho.
“We are thrilled that a record number of new Broncos has joined us over the past few years. This is not only good for Boise State, but for the city of Boise … and for meeting the career and technical labor force needs of Idaho,” Talbert said.
Interim President Jeremiah Shinn relayed this sentiment, noting the university’s efforts to align its programs with “workforce demands and provide students with real-world opportunities to prepare for life after college”.
With transfer student enrollment up 11%, Talbert said the university utilizes virtual events and outreach to accommodate and connect with transfer students, preparing students to transition into the Boise State community.
“From the point of first contact with Boise State all the way through to how we prepare and welcome new Broncos during summer and spring orientations, a lot of our success is about listening to students’ feedback about their needs, maintaining a steadfast culture of service and being very data-driven and informed so we can make adjustments throughout the year,” Talbert said.
As the enrollment rate at Boise State climbs, the university is experiencing record numbers of graduating students. In the 2024-25 school year, 5,402 students across undergraduate and graduate programs graduated, representing a 2% increase from the previous year.
According to Talbert, record enrollment prompts new conversations about how to serve the growing university.
“There are important conversations happening now around campus about how to maximize our physical spaces and find new ways, whether that be with new technology, automating outdated processes or shifting the look of favorite campus events to ensure students are getting the most out of their time in and outside the classroom,” Talbert said.
As the university continues to meet student demand and workforce needs, Shinn said he expects this “incremental growth” to continue.
“When I speak with business and industry leaders across Idaho, they consistently highlight the need for more college graduates to meet their workforce challenges,” Shinn said.
Because the university has shifted to Idaho enrollment, Talbert noted Idaho LAUNCH, a grant program that awards $8,000 for Idaho students studying for in-demand careers, is another contributor to in-state enrollment.
However, as conversations around the discontinuation of this program surface, she anticipates a “chilling effect” on in-state enrollment should this occur.
“I remain hopeful that this program continues, because we know this has really made Boise
State education a viable option for a significant number of Idahoans,” Talbert says.
With the continuing trend of record enrollment, Shinn emphasized the university’s mission of meeting the needs of all students. He believes this growth is a reflection of the dedication of faculty, the unique experience the university provides and its thriving environment.
“Leading Boise State University is the honor of a lifetime, especially at a moment when our university is attracting record enrollment and producing record numbers of graduates to support the Idaho workforce,” Shinn said. “Our goal is for every student, no matter how much we grow, to have the programs, resources, academic support and sense of community they need to be successful at Boise State and beyond.”
