College applications increase

Approximately half of Idaho’s high school seniors applied for college last fall during College Application Week. Data shows that 10,503 high school seniors participated in College Application Week 2017, an increase of 20.5-percent over the prior year.

Those seniors also submitted 15,412 applications, a 15-percent increase over 2016.

The goal of Idaho College Application Week is to provide an opportunity for all Idaho seniors to explore postsecondary opportunities and complete college applications. It is one of several State Board of Education programs intended to help move Idaho closer to the goal of 60-percent of citizens between the ages of 25-34 having a post-secondary certificate or degree.

Idaho’s Direct Admissions program is also seeing gains. In 2017, nearly 23,000 high school seniors were automatically admitted either to all eight of Idaho’s public colleges and universities to the six community colleges and technical schools.

Nearly 9,000 students last year used the new Apply Idaho program on the nextsteps.idaho.gov website to apply directly to Idaho public colleges or universities. Each Apply Idaho applicant submitted applications to 2.5 institutions. Board staff continues to work with the institutions to improve Apply Idaho based on feedback from students, parents and counselors.

College Application Week 2018 is set to occur in November.