Enrollment nearly doubles in 10 years at BYU-Idaho
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REXBURG, IDAHO
On June 21, 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley made an announcement that would change the lives of thousands of students.
"The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Board of Trustees of Ricks College announce that Ricks College will change from its present two-year junior college status to a four-year institution."
At that time enrollment was 8,840 students. After the announcement, then Ricks College President David A. Bednar told the audience, "I would have been less surprised if they announced the school was closed."
Now, more than 10 years later, enrollment has almost doubled at Brigham Young University — Idaho. Total enrollment for fall semester 2011 hit a record high at 15,102 students. This number is almost a thousand more than last fall. According to a news release from BYU-Idaho, the number of full-time students has increased more than 5 percent with students taking an average of 13.3 credit hours. The number of students participating in non-day programs is 3,008 students. These programs include the university's Pathway Program, which brings "interactive online courses to select institute buildings," along with online degrees, continuing education and high school concurrent enrollment.
These increases are consistent with the university's enrollment expansion announced last year, according to the release.
Also reported, "this semester the student body consists of 4,949 freshmen, 3,269 sophomores, 3,708 juniors and 3,072 seniors. There are 3,766 married students, comprising 25 percent of the student body. There are 6,649 male students (44 percent) and 8,453 female students (56 percent). The university has 433 international students, representing 59 countries."
