Lots of college choices available in Coeur d’Alene
It’s now easier than ever to get a college degree and not even leave North Idaho. Whether you’re in high school, about to graduate from high school, or you’ve been out of school for many years, there’s lots of higher education opportunities in our backyard.
Not only are there a wide variety of courses to choose from, there’s also variety when it comes to the type of degree to pursue. Here’s some basic information about North Idaho colleges and universities:
What colleges and universities are in Coeur d’Alene?:
• North Idaho College
• University of Idaho
• Lewis-Clark State College
• Boise State University
• Idaho State University
Where are the colleges located?
The five colleges are located on what’s called the Education Corridor. It’s the area that’s between downtown Coeur d’Alene and Riverstone, just off of Northwest Boulevard, and next to Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River. If you haven’t been there, it’s a great place to take your family for a walk!
What’s available from each college or university?
For an excellent overview of what is offered in CdA, visit www.northidahohighereducation.org. There you’ll find a summary of each school, a summary of what programs they offer, and links to the colleges’ websites.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Each school has a slightly different process, but here’s some basic information that will help.
1. Idaho colleges operate on a semester system. In general that means one semester begins in August and the other in January. Most colleges also offer a compressed summer session.
2. The Idaho State Board of Education has made applying to Idaho Colleges even easier. Seniors receive an acceptance letter from Idaho Colleges based on their test scores. They can then follow these steps from the nextsteps.idaho.gov website:
– Use the Idaho Schools Directory to research your options.
– Compare your options side by side.
– Think about visiting an Idaho college campus.
– Use Apply Idaho to submit applications to the Idaho colleges and universities you may want to attend, with no application fee.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Going to college is expensive. Be sure to tap into every resource you have to help fund your college experience.
Here’s a few tips:
1. Visit your college website and search for scholarship opportunities. Every college has scholarship money available. You’ll also find lots of information and links on their website to great resources to help pay for college.
2. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. It’s the federal government program for financial aid and student loans. Each college can help you learn about the financial aid process and there’s lots of information online at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
3. There is funding available for Idaho high school students that helps pay for college tuition for dual credit classes or exams. Check with your high school counseling office for how to apply.
4. Visit edinfocentercda.com/Pay-for-School/North-Idaho-Scholarships for the most comprehensive list of local, state, and regional scholarships
A few more things!
• Don’t be afraid to ask LOTS of questions.
• The Admissions Office at every college is there to help you.
• You’re not the only one to ask that question! Keep asking questions until you understand exactly what needs to be done.
• Deadlines are deadlines. There’s no flexibility. Start early so you have lots of time to figure it out.
How to get started
