State Board Approves Largest Increases in Three Years

Idaho’s public universities will raise tuition and fees by up to $425 per year for in-state undergraduates beginning this fall, following a unanimous vote by the State Board of Education on Tuesday.

The increases range from 4.4% to 4.7% across the four institutions—the steepest hikes approved in three years. Last year, costs rose 3.5% systemwide, and 3% the year before.

What Students Will Pay

Full-time in-state undergraduates will face the following annual costs for tuition and fees in the 2026-27 academic year:

• Boise State University: $9,789 (up $425, or 4.5%)
• Idaho State University: $9,339 (up $425, or 4.7%)
• University of Idaho: $9,825 (up $425, or 4.5%)
• Lewis-Clark State College: $8,226 (up $350, or 4.4%)

Out-of-state undergraduates will pay between $23,938 at Lewis-Clark State and $29,477 at Boise State. Graduate student costs will increase by at least 4.7% at three campuses, while Idaho State is holding graduate tuition flat to remain competitive with peer schools.

Revenue and Campus Priorities

The combined tuition and fee hikes will generate approximately $17.6 million across the four-year system. Boise State will collect the largest portion—roughly $8.3 million—with nearly $2 million earmarked for financial aid, fraud detection systems, and degree-tracking tools designed to improve retention and graduation rates.

University officials said the additional revenue will help offset the impact of eliminating faculty and staff positions and reducing academic support programs during a period of rising enrollment. Boise State also cited an urgent need to hire faculty in engineering and health sciences, two high-demand programs operating at capacity.

The University of Idaho plans to dedicate a portion of its $4.3 million increase to launching a counseling and mental health center, which student leaders identified as a top priority.

Mixed Reactions from Student Leaders

Student government responses varied across campuses. University of Idaho student body president Seyi Arogundade endorsed the increase in a March 30 statement, calling the mental health center a critical resource. Lewis-Clark State student body president Rayne Martinez described the increases as minimal and beneficial to students.

Boise State’s student government passed a resolution opposing all significant tuition increases, though it did not directly address the 4.5% hike approved Tuesday. State Board President Kurt Liebich questioned whether the increase crossed that threshold. Boise State interim CFO Stacy Pearson said the university reduced its initial request from 6.5% to 4.5% after a March public hearing where students voiced concerns.

Budget Pressures Drive Decision

The tuition hikes follow a difficult legislative session for Idaho higher education. Governor Brad Little and the Legislature imposed budget cuts totaling $14.6 million for the current fiscal year ending June 30, with reductions reaching $26 million for the coming year. Four-year institutions absorbed a disproportionate share of spending cuts compared to K-12 schools.

State Board Executive Director Jennifer White acknowledged in a Friday memo that even modest tuition increases could discourage enrollment. She wrote that tuition cannot serve as the primary long-term solution to financial pressures facing Idaho’s universities.

Historical Context

Idaho’s four-year schools implemented a three-year tuition freeze beginning shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. University of Idaho CFO Brian Foisy said Tuesday that budget pressures have accumulated over time, and the increase will address inflation and rising salary and benefit costs.

The approved rates take effect for the fall 2026 semester.