The University

The University of Idaho is a land-grant research institution founded in 1889 by a statute of the 15th territorial legislature. Commonly known as the university charter, this statute became part of the state constitution when Idaho was admitted to the Union in 1890. The university's intimate campus, statewide laboratories, extension centers, outreach programs, and passionate faculty provide aspiring leaders with opportunities to challenge themselves and address pressing national problems. The University of Idaho supports initiatives to improve the quality of life of all Idaho citizens, create a sustainable American West, and secure the economic progress of the world.

The university community has implemented a strategic plan to further the institution's vision. With the support of units across campus, this 2016-2025 Strategic Plan fulfills the promise of a 21st century land-grant institution to lead and inspire Idaho, the nation, and the world. Students, faculty, and staff at the University of Idaho participate in building a community that respects individuality and provides access and inclusion for all members of the Vandal family.

The university is a publicly supported institution with principal responsibility in Idaho for performing research and granting the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. The liberal arts and sciences, offered through the College of Letters, Arts and Social Science and the College of Science, are the heart of the university's educational programs. The primary areas of statewide responsibility are agriculture, natural resources, engineering, medical and veterinary education, architecture, and law with programs in liberal arts, sciences, education, business and economics. In addition, the University Library and the Law Library contain over two million books, bound periodicals, microforms, and U.S. government publications. These resources - together with the libraries at Washington State University (eight miles to the west) - equal those of major metropolitan areas.

To assist with its statewide mission, the university maintains resident instruction centers in Coeur d'Alene, Boise, and Idaho Falls, extension offices in 42 of Idaho's 44 counties, research and extension centers in Aberdeen, Caldwell, Dubois, Idaho Falls, Kimberly, Moscow, Parma, Salmon, Sandpoint, Tetonia, and Twin Falls, and field stations at McCall, Point Springs, and the Taylor Ranch in central Idaho. Through international programs, the university extends its services to many other countries.

Nearly 12,000 students from all states and more than 90 foreign countries choose programs from a vast array of disciplines. Strong undergraduate programs are coupled with nationally recognized research and scholarly achievements. The university has granted more than 100,000 degrees since its founding. Student and research success comes through the efforts of more than 920 faculty members in teaching and research, and 2,200 staff and professional personnel who work at more than 70 locations covering more than 10,000 acres.

The university is proud of its friendly campus atmosphere and sense of community. The feeling of camaraderie that pervades the campus extends to Moscow, the university's "hometown." It is a thriving community of nearly 24,000 located in the northern part of the state about 90 miles southeast of Spokane, Washington.

Moscow is the gateway to a natural wonderland. The surrounding Palouse hills and the mountains and lakes of northern Idaho provide a scenic background for university facilities. Skiing, boating, and other outdoor recreation resources are available within easy driving distance. They include the Sawtooth and Hells Canyon national recreation areas, Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, and scenic rivers such as the Snake, Clearwater, Salmon, Lochsa, and Selway.

The university is a member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Additional approval or accreditation for specific programs has been granted by the following organizations:

  • AACSB International (AACSB)
    • College of Business
    • Accounting (B.S.Bus.)
    • Business Economics (B.S.Bus.)
    • Finance (B.S.Bus.)
    • Management Information Systems (B.S.Bus.)
    • Management and Human Resources (B.S.Bus.)
    • Marketing (B.S.Bus.)
    • Operations and Supply Chain Management (B.S.Bus.)
    • Accountancy (M.Acct.)
    • General Management (M.B.A.)
  • ABET Computing Accreditation Association
    • Computer Science (B.S.C.S.)
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
    • College of Law
    • Law (J.D.)
  • The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
    • Advertising (B.A. and B.S.)
    • Broadcasting and Digital Media (B.A. and B.S.)
    • Journalism (B.A. and B.S.)
    • Public Relations (B.A. and B.S.)
  • Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
    • Dietetics (M.S.) - candidacy for accreditation
  • American Chemical Society (ACS)
    • Chemistry (B.S.)
  • Association for Fire Ecology (AFE)
    • Fire Ecology and Management (B.S.Fire.Ecol.Mgmt.)
  • American Society for Engineering Management
    • Engineering Management (M.Engr.)
  • The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
    • Industrial Technology (B.S.Tech.)
  • The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
    • Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.)
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (formerly NCATE, also covers PSC)
    • Career and Technical Education (B.S.Ed.)
    • Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.)
    • Secondary Education (B.S.Ed.)
    • Educational Leadership (M.Ed., Ed.S.Ed.Ldrshp.)
    • Physical Education (M.Ed.)
    • Special Education (M.Ed.)
    • Agricultural Education (B.S.Ag.Ed., M.S.)
    • Early Childhood Education (B.S.)
    • Music Education (B.Mus.)
  • Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
    • Interior Architecture and Design (B.I.A.D.)
  • The Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA)
    • American Language and Culture Program
  • The Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professionals (COAPRT)
    • Recreation (B.S.Rec.)
  • Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) - undergraduate programs only
    • Chemical Engineering (B.S.Ch.E.)
    • Computer Engineering (B.S.Comp.E.)
    • Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.)
    • Industrial Technology (B.S.Tech.)
    • Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
  • IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence External Advisory Committee (INBRE EAC)/NIH
    • Idaho INBRE (ID-INBRE)
  • Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
    • Food Science (B.S.F.S.)
  • Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB)
    • Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.)
  • National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)
    • Dual Credit Program
  • National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
    • Architecture (M.Arch.)
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
    • Art (B.A., M.F.A.)
    • Studio Art and Design (B.F.A.)
    • Virtual Technology and Design (B.S.)
  • National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
    • Music (B.A. and B.S.)
    • Music: Business (B.Mus.)
    • Music: Composition (B.Mus.)
    • Music Education (B.Mus.)
    • Music: Performance (B.Mus.)
  • National Council for Family Relations (NCFR) and Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)
    • Family and Consumer Studies (M.S.)
    • Human Development and Family Studies (B.S.)
    • Early Childhood Education (B.S.)
  • Professional Golfers Association (PGA)
    • Marketing (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
    • Business Economics (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
    • Finance (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
    • Management and Information Systems (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
    • Operations and Supply Chain Management (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
    • Management and Human Resources (B.S.Bus.) - PGA Golf Management
  • Society of American Foresters (SAF) Committee on Accreditation (COA)
    • Forestry (B.S.Forestry)
  • Society for Range Management (SRM)
    • Rangeland Conservation (B.S.Rangeland.Consv.)
  • Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST)
    • Forest and Sustainable Products (B.S.)