University of Idaho

Gaining admission to the University of Idaho is relatively accessible, though the institution has seen its position slip over recent years. In the 2027 USNews ranking of National Universities, the university ranked 208th, dropping from 171st in 2018. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school admitted applicants at a rate of 75.5%, which was higher than 37% of 30 similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. This moderate selectivity means most qualified applicants can expect an offer of admission. However, the university experiences a modest draw among those it accepts. Its yield rate stood at 19.9% in 2025, higher than 27% of its peer group, showing that fewer than one in five admitted students decided to enroll. For prospective applicants, these figures confirm that securing a place is straightforward, while the school continues to compete against other institutions to bring admitted candidates to campus.

Applicants to the University of Idaho generally face an accessible testing profile where solid academic achievement provides a strong foundation for admission. For the 2025 entering class, the median composite SAT score was 1110, which was higher than 23% of 26 similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Enrolled students typically presented middle-range SAT section scores spanning roughly 500 to 600, while ACT composite scores centered around the low twenties. Beyond standardized testing, high school grades carry substantial importance in the evaluation process, with a large portion of admitted students presenting grade point averages well above a B average. Furthermore, applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway, which are not official university data, show that admitted international applicants held a median unweighted GPA of 3.8 across 21 recorded cases. For prospective students preparing their applications, maintaining strong classroom grades is critical, while typical standardized test scores remain well within reach of average college-bound candidates.

Undergraduate degrees at the University of Idaho are broadly dispersed across numerous fields rather than heavily concentrated in just a few areas. In 2025, the three largest bachelor programs—general psychology, marketing management, and mechanical engineering—accounted for only 15.8% of all bachelor graduates. However, the most popular undergraduate majors do not align with the university's highest-ranked academic areas. In the 2026 USNews graduate rankings, the institution earned its strongest national marks in specialized engineering disciplines, with nuclear engineering placing 27th and biological and agricultural engineering placing 37th. In terms of financial returns, technical fields deliver the highest early-career compensation. According to 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, electrical, electronics, and communications engineering graduates led all bachelor fields with median earnings of $82,017, followed closely by chemical engineering. Prospective students seeking programs with strong reputations and high earning potential will find those advantages concentrated primarily in engineering disciplines.

The student body at the University of Idaho is primarily composed of domestic students, with white students forming the clear majority across undergraduate and graduate cohorts. In 2025, total enrollment reached 12,286 students across all divisions. International representation is modest overall, though it is more pronounced at specific levels. For instance, international students accounted for 10% of the first-year undergraduate class, with a similar share represented in graduate degree programs. In contrast, Asian students make up a very small segment of the campus community, comprising just 1% of the incoming undergraduate class. Gender representation is closely balanced between male and female students across both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts. For families evaluating the campus, these enrollment figures describe an educational environment where domestic white students predominate, while international and Asian students represent smaller, specialized segments of the overall student population.

Undergraduate life at the University of Idaho centers heavily on traditionally aged college students, creating an environment shaped by young adults completing degrees directly after high school. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 formed the single largest group at 33.7% of the 9,572 undergraduates, followed closely by those aged 20 to 21 at 30.4%. Conversely, the graduate population is considerably older, with students aged 25 to 29 representing the largest postgraduate segment. This demographic profile means that campus housing, social activities, and student services cater primarily to young adults in their late teens and early twenties, while older graduate scholars focus on specialized degree programs.

International student enrollment at the University of Idaho has remained largely stable over the past decade, though representation varies considerably between degree levels. In 2025, international students comprised 5.6% of the undergraduate body, a share that has stayed virtually unchanged since 2016 but remains higher than 97% of 30 similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. At the graduate level, international enrollment is proportionally larger, holding steady at 10.7% in 2025. Among graduating students, international representation concentrates heavily in specialized technical fields rather than humanities or social sciences. At the undergraduate level, international graduates are most visible in computer science, while domestic students dominate broader majors such as psychology and criminology. At the master's level, international degree recipients cluster in programs like architectural and building sciences. For prospective international applicants, these patterns show an established pathway in quantitative and technical departments, alongside an undergraduate international presence that surpasses most regional public peers.

Families considering the University of Idaho have multiple regional higher education options available in the surrounding area. Located just 6.8 kilometers away across the Washington state border is Washington State University, a fellow National University ranked 191st in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. To the north in Spokane, Gonzaga University is situated 67.4 kilometers from campus and holds a 2027 National University rank of 90th. Students interested in a smaller undergraduate-focused setting can consider Whitman College, a Liberal Arts College located 77.5 kilometers away in Walla Walla that held the 78th spot in the 2027 liberal arts rankings. These nearby institutions give applicants distinct campus environments and ranking ranges within driving distance of Moscow.

Campus safety indicators at the University of Idaho show a downward trend in recorded offenses over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students fell to 7.9 in 2025, down from 12 in 2016. The vast majority of reported incidents on campus involve substance policy violations rather than violent crimes against individuals. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, substance enforcement accounted for the largest totals, led by 292 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and 124 liquor law arrests, alongside smaller numbers of drug arrests and referrals. Violent and interpersonal offenses occurred at much lower frequencies across those same years, including reported cases of rape and stalking. For prospective students and families reviewing campus security, these figures demonstrate that law enforcement and university discipline are primarily occupied with alcohol-related infractions rather than widespread violent crime.