For Immediate Release
September 15, 2025
Contact: Marissa Morrison
208-332-1591
[email protected]
BOISE, Idaho — Thousands of Idaho high school seniors will soon open their mailboxes to find their Idaho Campus Choice letters, confirming guaranteed admission to Idaho’s colleges and universities.
Starting with the Class of 2026, Idaho Campus Choice now goes beyond admissions. Students’ highest scores on the ISAT, SAT, or ACT will be used for college-level placement in math and English. That means strong performance on these exams can help students skip placement tests and start directly in credit-bearing courses. Students who prefer can still take their college’s individual placement exam.
“Idaho Campus Choice makes college more accessible,” said Jennifer White, Idaho State Board of Education executive director. “By expanding this effort to include placement, we can ensure students are ready to thrive from the start and develop the skills and confidence they need to become productive members of Idaho’s communities and workforce.”
This initiative, directed by the Idaho State Board of Education, began a decade ago. In 2015, Idaho’s public college presidents and State Board members launched a first-of-its-kind admissions policy: proactively admitting every Idaho high school senior to college. Their goal was clear, remove the stress of the admissions process and send a strong message that every Idaho student is “college material.”
Idaho Campus Choice Details
Good grades and strong test scores open doors:
- ISAT Math and ELA/Literacy ≥3 OR unweighted GPA of 3.0+ → Pre-admitted to all 8 Idaho public colleges and universities.
- Unweighted GPA 2.25–2.99 → Pre-admitted to 6 colleges.
- Unweighted GPA under 2.25 → Pre-admitted to 4 colleges.
This fall, more than 23,000 Idaho seniors will receive their letters after Sept. 15. From there, they can take the next step:
- Discover the school that will be the best fit at the College Discovery Center.
- Apply Idaho opens October 1 at Next Steps Idaho, allowing qualifying students to apply for free to ten Idaho colleges, including all eight public institutions and two private colleges.
- Idaho LAUNCH applications open October 1, offering grants that cover up to 80 percent of the cost of education or training leading to in-demand careers.
“Idaho graduates have more opportunities than ever before,” said White. “With guaranteed admission, expanded placement options, and Idaho LAUNCH, students can step into higher education and career training knowing they are on a pathway to meaningful work and a bright future in Idaho.”
About Idaho State Board of Education
The mission of the Board is “To drive improvement of the K-20 education system for the citizens of Idaho, focusing on quality, results, and accountability.”
