CWI: The students
From high school dual-credit students to single parents searching for a new career, the College of Western Idaho serves 30,000 students from diverse backgrounds. Some look to save on tuition, while others pursue vocational training or come to learn English and build community. Here are the stories of six students who utilized the different opportunities offered by CWI.
Alex Todd
Age: 19
Field of study: Associate of Engineering Degree
Reason for choosing CWI: Affordability as a transfer student
Hobby: Volunteering at The Hive, a musical space in Boise with mental health services
Alex Todd grew up in a military family, and he moved about every three years while growing up.
Despite all of the moving, Alex excelled in STEM classes in school and knew he wanted to be an engineer.
“Not only does it pay well, the whole act of creating and destroying … all that is pretty fun,” Todd said. “I played a lot with Legos as a kid.”
Alex decided to get a jump-start on college and took dual-enrollment classes while in high school in Pennsylvania. After yet another move — this time to Boise — he finished his last year of high school while taking credits through the College of Western Idaho.
Todd chose CWI because of the price tag.
“It seemed to be the most affordable option to get an associate’s degree and help spring into a bachelor’s degree at another college without having to break the bank,” he said.
A student who attends CWI and then transfers to BSU could save thousands in tuition.
To break it down:
| Engineering Four-Year Program, BSU | Engineering at CWI with transfer to BSU | |
| Annual Tuition Cost | $8,782 | $3,336 (CWI) $8,782 (BSU) |
| Total Tuition Cost | $35,128 | $24,236 |
Todd said he isn’t worried about the transfer to BSU, as almost all students are accepted thanks to a transfer deal called BroncoConnect between the two schools.
CWI’s Top 5 Academic Programs (by number of graduates):
- General Studies
- Business
- Health Science and Public Health
- Registered Nursing
- Social Work
Todd doesn’t feel like he is missing anything in his education at CWI, and he likes the flexibility it affords.
“If you’re in a two-year program you can finish and have that degree,” he said. “If you are doing a four-year program and something happens or you need a break you don’t have anything.”
Alex hopes to finish at CWI in the spring of 2025 and then transfer to BSU. Because he will have his associate of engineering degree, he aspires to work as an engineering technician while he finishes his bachelor’s degree.
CWI: The students
From high school dual-credit students to single parents searching for a new career, the College of Western Idaho serves 30,000 students from diverse backgrounds. Some look to save on tuition, while others pursue vocational training or come to learn English and build community. Here are the stories of six students who utilized the different opportunities offered by CWI.
