September 12, 2002

Boise State enrolled 17,714 students for the fall semester, an increase of more than 3 percent over last year’s fall total of 17,161. The 2002 total marks the seventh consecutive fall in which the university posted a sizeable increase for a new state record — in spite of receiving fewer state-appropriated dollars.

"I think we did an excellent job working to meet the needs of our students, especially since we’re working with $5 million less in state-appropriated funding in the current fiscal year," said Mark Wheeler, Boise State’s dean of enrollment services. "In fact, there were more students wanting to enroll, but we simply ran out of class seats."

Wheeler noted that students were also taking heavier class loads, a total reflected in the number of full-time students, which increased by 5 percent.

Boise State’s enrollment, Wheeler noted, continues to post impressive numbers in several areas:

• The student body is comprised of 92 percent Idaho residents.

• The university is approximately 30 percent larger in head count than any other university in the state.

• The average GPA of new freshmen is 3.3.

• Enrollment of graduate students is up 17 percent.

• Boise State’s off-campus programs also recorded large increases with enrollment at Gowen Field up by 68 percent and at the Canyon County Center by 15 percent.

• Courses offered through a variety of electronic media (Internet, compressed video, cable television, etc.) increased by 26 percent.

Contact: 

Charles Ruch
President’s Office
426-1630  

Mark Wheeler           
Enrollment Services                                
426-1491

Bob Evancho
University Relations
426-1643