COEUR d'ALENE - Attendance is up again for the fall semester at the Coeur d'Alene campuses of the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College.

While the 10th-day enrollment reports released Wednesday by each of the schools show significant increases in the numbers of students taking classes, neither school surpassed last year's record-setting enrollment rates.

The University of Idaho at Coeur d'Alene reported an enrollment of 502 students, a 12.3 percent increase, consistent with the 12.6 percent enrollment spike the university reported at this time last year.

"Some of our biggest jumps come from our ability to hold onto students," said Richard Reardon, the university's interim center executive in Coeur d'Alene.

Reardon said that while students continue to transfer to the University of Idaho, the fact that they are staying on for another year once they are already enrolled is a sign that the university is doing something right.

He said the economic climate continues to be another factor driving enrollments.

"A lot of our efforts are directed at working with our friends at NIC, but the biggest spikes have been in our graduate programs. That's been a bonus for us, in terms of our enrollment," Reardon said.

Reardon credits a new graduate program in human services and other programs in rehabilitation counseling and school psychology.

All state schools are required to file a 10th day report to the Idaho State Board of Education. Enrollment figures are based on the numbers during the 10th day of enrollment, which was Friday.

Enrollment at LCSC-Coeur d'Alene climbed to 429 students, an 8.3 percent increase over last year's tally of 396 students. In 2009, the school saw a record-setting 9.4 percent increase.

North Idaho College did not release its 10th day enrollment numbers on Wednesday.

In the fall of 2009, NIC reported a 16.5 percent hike in its student head count, adding an additional 803 students, bringing the total students to 5,659.

By mid-August the projected head count was 5,892.