(UPDATED, 2:39 p.m., with corrected information on how students can accept a Launch grant.)
The final numbers on Idaho Launch are in — and 9,180 high school graduates will receive grants this year.
State officials have made their final awards for the first-year program, which provides high school graduates with up to $8,000 for college or workforce training aligned with in-demand careers.
“With Launch, Idaho is taking extraordinary steps to prepare our young people for a lifetime of prosperity,” Gov. Brad Little said in a news release, touting Tuesday’s Launch numbers.
The bottom line aligns with recent forecasts. In June, state officials said they had hoped to award up to 9,250 Launch grants.
And either way, it means close to half of the state’s 21,000 graduating seniors will receive a Launch grant.
Launch recipients are most likely to pursue a job in a health profession.
More than 2,600 students will use their money to study nursing or other health-related professions. That’s in line with data from April, which showed nursing was the most popular field of study for would-be Launch awardees.
Here’s how the Launch awards break down, by top programs:
- Health occupations: 2,604.
- Engineering: 860.
- Teaching: 654.
- Business administration: 488.
- Automotive technician: 475.
- Welding: 349.
- Agriculture and food industries: 310.
While the awards are final, students still need to go online to accept their grant. Students will receive a personalized link via email, which will direct them to Launch’s grant management platform.
The state is distributing $70.8 million in Launch grants for this year.
An additional $70.8 million — approved by a divided 2024 Legislature — will be available for next year’s graduating seniors.
