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Computer Science Department Grows Twofold in Five Years

The Department of Computer Science has grown to twice the size it was Fall of 2012 as the local industry continues to seek more CS professionals.

line chart showing the growth of computer science BS enrollment from 2012 to 2017

For the Fall 2017 semester, enrollment in the department’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program has grown to a new record of 711 students with the incoming class making up a record 190 students (up from 136 in Fall 2016). Of those new students, 139 are new first-year students coming from predominately Idaho and other western states with California and Washington leading the way and the remaining 51 transfer students come from a wide range of large universities and small colleges with the College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College best represented. Computer Science was the #3 top Boise State major for both incoming first-year and transfer students.

The incoming class not only increased in size but also in diversity, with women making up 18% of the incoming cohort (up from 15% in Fall 2016) bringing the total number of women in the Bachelor’s program to 120 (17%).

students sitting at computer workstations in a classroom

This growth has been made possible by investment from the State of Idaho in eight new faculty and Boise State University in a new home at City Center Plaza, as well as valued financial and in-kind support from industry partners. The department continues to rely on these partners to enhance our program offerings to continue graduating high-quality students, ideally filling the high demand for talent locally.

Boise State University as a whole continues to experience record growth in 2017.