BYU-Idaho equals finance-friendly higher education
- posted: 28 Feb. 2008
- scrollspecial@byui.edu
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), BYU-Idaho is only retaining 76 percent of its full-time students.
The cost of tuition and fees at BYU-I is about $1,000 less than most other universities, however, the number of BYU-I students transferring to other schools is still growing, according to the latest reports.
The percentage of males who graduate from BYU-I is only 45, and 70 percent of females graduate. This may have something to do with the amount of students who transfer to surrounding colleges.
The NCES reports that tuition for BYU-I is $2,890 per year. Because this is a private institution, there is no additional cost for out-of-state students. However, the same applies for BYU, and their tuition and fees total $3,620 per year, according to the NCES.
Another popular university located in the surrounding area is Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Tuition for an in-state student there costs $4,190, but tuition for an out-of-state student costs $12,460 per year, according to the NCES.
Kristin Gray Waldram transferred to Idaho State from BYU-I in January after she married Mike Waldram of Pocatello, and she said she is adjusting to the change.
“It pains me to pay that much because I don’t feel like it’s worth that much,” Kristin Waldram said. “I was paying half that at BYU-Idaho, and the price just keeps going up here.”
Waldram said that, although she is now considered an Idaho resident, she still feels that her education at Idaho State University is not worth the cost.
Jason Laughlin, a sophomore studying business, said he plans to transfer to BYU in Provo.
“BYU is bigger,” he said, “and has the graduate program that I am looking for.”
Tuition really isn’t a concern when he thinks about higher education, Laughlin said.
He feels that the education at BYU-I has served him well, but the bigger programs at BYU are what he’s looking for.
Zach Turner, a sophomore studying health science, said he is looking for a more rounded education at Utah State University.
“I think that you get a better education, not only in class learning, but life-wise. You learn how to survive. The teachers don’t hold your hand,” Turner said.
The tuition at Utah State University is $4,190 per year for a Utah resident and $11,449 per year for an out-of-state resident according to the NCES.
Some BYU-I students said the higher tuition prices are worth the education.
“The classes are smaller here, which has its pros and cons, but down [at Utah State] you are really pushed to learn things at a higher level,” Turner said. 
