College Cost

Idaho college tuition and fees have increased more than fivefold since 1980, when cost figures are adjusted for inflation.

That’s the conclusion from a new report issued by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, a nonpartisan budget think tank.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver a 2:45 p.m. speech today at the Caven-Williams Sports Complex on the Boise State University campus after delivering his State of the Union address last night.

Two of Idaho's largest universities reported enrollment declines this year.

Boise State University saw its total students during the fall semester sag to 22,003 from 22,678 last year, a drop of 3 percent.

Meanwhile, the University of Idaho said its overall enrollment plunged nearly 5.2 percent to 11,844, from 12,493.

Both schools sought to put a positive spin on declining enrollments.

Idaho’s Lewis-Clark State College announced Monday it will stop charging an application fee for students sending in the paper form and drop the online application fee to $5.25.

The Lewiston school was already the application-fee bargain for Idaho’s four-year state schools at $35.