The University of Idaho College of Law bucked national and regional trends to come out ahead in total applications and enrollment. Its growth may have come at the expense of Concordia Law School, in Boise, Idaho.
University of Idaho saw an 11.9 percent increase in applications this year, making it one of only four schools nationwide to increase by 10 percent or more, according to the Law School Admission Council.
The increase in applications allowed the College to be more selective, admitting only 55.3 percent of applicants as opposed to 65.5 percent in 2012. The school enrolled 110 incoming students, a 7.8 percent increase from 2012.
“Law school is a serious investment and even with scholarships to other schools, students selected U-Idaho because our tuition is the 13th most affordable in the country and our employment prospects are encouraging,” said Jeffrey Dodge, the associate dean who oversees admissions at the College of Law.
The University of Idaho, located in the far north of the state, recently opened a branch in Boise, giving third-year students the option to take clinics, externships and a semester in practice program in the state’s capitol.
Meanwhile, Concordia Law School, which opened last year in Boise with a first-year enrollment of 73 students, saw a big drop this year. It only enrolled 44 students for its second class, according to the Idaho Statesman.
The private school also lost 10 students from the prior year, and gained three transfers. That leaves it with 110 total students.
