COEUR d’ALENE — Total enrollment at North Idaho College increased 7.1% for the spring semester, NIC announced Wednesday, marking six straight semesters of growth.

Enrollment this spring is 4,570 students, up from 4,267 at this time last year. 

The enrollment milestone comes on the heels of NIC retaining accreditation and returning to good status with its accreditor, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. 

“Our story has been and will continue to be one of resilience and opportunity,” NIC President Nick Swayne said. “The continued growth reflects the trust our community places in us and the determination of our students to invest in their futures.” 

Dual-credit students increased 13%, from 1,580 last spring to 1,785 this spring. College leaders have attributed the dramatic growth in dual-credit students to strong relationships with local high schools. NIC arranges tours for local high school and middle school students. 

Total students from Kootenai County increased 9.6% over last year, rising from 3,135 in spring 2025 to 3,435 in spring 2026. Total full-time students from Kootenai County increased a whopping 17.1%, from 937 last year to 1,097 this year. 

“Across the country, spring enrollment is typically a story of modest gains — or even continued declines — rather than dramatic surges,” Swayne said. 

But NIC is outpacing the national trend. The current overall postsecondary enrollment increase across the country is about 1%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, with growth in undergraduate enrollment driven by a 3% increase in community college enrollment nationwide. 

Swayne has pointed to streamlined enrollment processes and effective marketing as contributors to increased enrollment. The college has partnered with four-year institutions on several programs and has organized community events such as the NIC Color Fun Run. 

Swayne also highlighted NIC’s applied AI workshops with local industry partners and plans to launch a new higher education track in the fall for students seeking a classical education, called Cardinal Classical Pathway.

“We are building a future where innovation, tradition and community come together,” Swayne said. 

Enrollment in non-credit courses at NIC’s Workforce Training Center in Post Falls has also increased significantly over the past few years, rising from 4,757 students in 2023 to 5,382 in 2025, a 13% increase. 

Individual class enrollments increased 20% from 6,684 in 2023 to 8,038 in 2025. 

“We’re seeing growth because people are looking for a faster, more direct path into meaningful, well-paying careers,” said Colby Mattila, NIC executive director of Workforce and Economic Development. 

Registration for summer and fall courses is underway.