Enrollment cliff to hit UI next year

Despite an upward trend in enrollment at the University of Idaho, an enrollment cliff has been rippling throughout the country and is set to hit Pacific Northwestern schools in 2025. UI is projected to face a 15% decrease in student enrollment in the upcoming year. 

When the recession hit in 2008, there was a drop in birth rates, according to Dean Kahler, the Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management at UI.  

The decrease in birth rates and the decreasing appeal in attending higher education among high schoolers are contributing factors in the enrollment cliff. According to Kahler, students are wondering if college is still worth it due to the cost and debt after they graduate.  

“Colleges and universities are trying to figure out, how do we keep growing and keep where we are at?” Kahler said. “The enrollment at this institution was struggling. We are in a good spot right now, but that is a very precarious spot that any college or university could lose their chokehold on.”  

The decrease in higher education enrollment has already been seen in the East and Southeast parts of the country. This is leading to more competition among colleges in the Pacific Northwest where the enrollment cliff has yet to hit.  

“We are starting to see this really intensified college recruitment competition escalate,” Kahler said. “We are seeing schools that we used to never see at college fairs.” 

Kahler further states that this gives more options to students who want to attend higher education.  

“It becomes a student’s market rather than a school’s market,” Kahler said. “Schools are going to be competing harder and harder for college students.” 

The enrollment cliff is expected to last around a decade, but the detailed estimate is still not known.  

“I think this is a long-term challenge for colleges,” Kahler said.  

Kahler and the recruitment team are implementing programs to help curb the effects of the enrollment cliff. Kahler believes that helping students financially is one way to encourage students to attend UI. The recruitment team has been going to high schools and college fairs while also talking about the importance of higher education.  

Kahler also wants to focus on partnering with the workforce for what they need from universities.  

“The workforce is getting crunched,” Kahler said. “They need skilled workers.” 

Kahler wants to reach out to non-traditional students such as those who have previously dropped out, an older demographic who may want to attend college and international students.  

Kahler states that the drop in enrollment will not affect tuition but may cause the university to have a tighter budget.  

“The competition is going to be intense, but I feel like our university is in a good spot right now.” 

Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].