Idaho Colleges & Universities
Although Idaho is known for its world-famous pototoes, a commitment in the 1970s to diversify the state's economy gave Idaho colleges and universities a chance to build and enhance programs in high-tech, science, and other growing fields.
Science and High-Tech Jobs--Not Potatoes--Drive Idaho Colleges and Universities
Idaho's higher education and research institutions consist of:
• Eight state-sponsored colleges and universities
• 19 additional degree-granting institutions
• A national laboratory (one of only 10 in the United States)
• Major regional medical centers, including the U.S. Veterans Administration Medical Center.
In addition, because of the state's relatively small population of about 1.5 million, it has too few students to warrant some specialized and expensive college programs. In the areas of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, Idaho colleges and universities partner with other states to allow its students to study those fields at other U.S. colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates.
Although Idaho is only the 39th U.S. state when ranked by population and Boise is its only city with a population in excess of 100,000, the state has the sixth fastest-growing population, which is expected to increase by 31 percent between 2008 and 2030.
Study Science and Technology at Idaho Colleges
Science and technology are Idaho's primary industries today, supported by major companies with operations in the state:
• Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips
• Hewlett-Packard
• Dell
• ON Semiconductor, whose worldwide headquarter locates in Pocatello
• Sun Microsystems
Other important industries are:
• Service (driven by its outdoor recreation sector)
• Wholesale or retail trade
• Government and military services
• Manufacturing
• Farming
Idaho is one of the most innovative states in the nation, consistently ranking second in patents issued (per capita) by the U.S. Patent Trademark Office. It also is one of a handful of states given the grade of "A" for its "entrepreneurial energy" by the 2007 CFED Report Card for the States.
In 2009, Marketwatch.com ranked Idaho's state capital of Boise ahead of Denver, Salt Lake City and Dallas-Ft. Worth as one of the top 10 best cities for business-based on results, a measure that took into account how many companies are located in particular metro regions.
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