- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Pocatello Today
By the People, for the People
Idaho State University Announces Sweeping Changes Amid Budget Constraints
University merges colleges, restructures programs, and raises fees to save millions amid state budget cuts
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Idaho State University is undergoing a major restructuring in response to current and looming state budget cuts, including merging colleges, eliminating positions, raising tuition and fees, and shifting computing efforts to a state-owned facility. The changes, announced by ISU President Robert Wagner, aim to save and generate millions in revenue by the end of the year while preserving the university's core mission.
Why it matters
The sweeping changes at ISU reflect the broader financial challenges facing higher education institutions in Idaho, as the state legislature continues to propose budget cuts for colleges and universities. The university's efforts to cut costs and generate new revenue streams underscore the difficult decisions universities must make to balance their budgets without compromising their educational offerings and services.
The details
ISU's budget restructuring plan includes merging the College of Arts and Letters with the College of Education to form the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, as well as consolidating the College of Health into the College of Nursing and Rehabilitative Sciences. The university is also restructuring its arts programs into a new School of Arts, which it hopes will generate added revenue from performances. Other cost-saving measures include position reductions, library and graduate school restructuring, and shifting computing efforts to a state-owned facility. The university says it will also raise 'modest' student fees to match 'market-aligned' pricing at peer institutions, though it did not provide specific figures.
- The changes will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
- The university announced the restructuring plan on February 12, 2026.
The players
Robert Wagner
The president of Idaho State University who announced the sweeping changes in response to state budget cuts.
What they’re saying
“This is a difficult moment in our university's history. It is appropriate to recognize that openly and honestly.”
— Robert Wagner, President (IdahoEdNews.org)
What’s next
The university says it will share any changes in tuition following approval by the State Board of Education, which is set to occur in April 2027. ISU will also hold fee hearings in March 2026 to determine any 'modest' fee hikes.
The takeaway
The sweeping changes at Idaho State University underscore the financial pressures facing higher education institutions in Idaho as the state legislature continues to propose budget cuts. The university's efforts to cut costs and generate new revenue streams, while preserving its core mission, serve as a case study in the difficult decisions universities must make to balance their budgets in the face of these constraints.
