LEWISTON, ID – Lewis-Clark State College has surpassed 4,000 students for the first time in its history, according to official census day totals released this week.

The college reported an overall headcount of 4,047 students, marking a 4.3% increase from last year and breaking its previous record of 3,999 set in 2011. This milestone also represents the fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth for the institution.

“LC State is proud to be a small school where students thrive and go on to do big things, and we always will be,” said LC State President Cynthia Pemberton. “We are proud to be seeing strategic growth at a time when many small colleges like ours, especially in rural regions like ours, are facing sharp enrollment declines. This growth is important for our workforce, especially in areas such as healthcare, for our region and throughout Idaho.”

Enrollment increases were seen across several academic divisions. The Humanities Division grew by 22%, Business & Computer Science by 15%, Nursing & Health Sciences by 12%, and Technical & Industrial by 7%. Full-time equivalent enrollment rose 4.5%, while the number of degree-seeking first-time students increased 8%.

The college also noted growth in new and expanding programs, including graduate-level coursework, with more than 20 students enrolled this fall—up from eight last year. Additionally, LC State’s expanding prison education program contributed 183 students to the total headcount, with participation in Orofino (103), Boise (65), and Pocatello (15).

Pemberton presented these figures during LC State’s annual report to the Idaho State Board of Education on Wednesday. Additional details from the census are expected to be released in the coming days.