COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – The North Idaho College (NIC) Board of Trustees has approved the college’s budget for 2026, marking the first tuition increase in seven years. The decision came during a meeting held on Wednesday.
Tom Greene, Interim Chief Communications and Government Relations Officer at NIC, clarified that this was the final approval of the budget, not a proposal. The budget includes a 3.9% tuition hike while still keeping NIC tied for the lowest tuition in the state.
Leaders from the Associated Students of North Idaho College were reportedly involved in the budget process. They collaborated with financial staff, reviewed the proposal, and supported the tuition increase due to its benefits without raising base property taxes.
Greene explained that NIC’s expenses are set to increase by about $6.6 million in the upcoming fiscal year. These increases include $1.2 million for a 5% pay raise for full-time and part-time employees and $800,000 to cover a 20% rise in health insurance costs.
The increased healthcare costs are expected to diminish the net effect of the employee raises. Greene also mentioned several internal adjustments aimed at reducing costs while safeguarding core services.
These adjustments include a $125,000 cut in legal expenses by switching to a more cost-effective firm and defunding long-vacant positions. An audit of benefit budgeting revealed additional savings, and capital reserve contributions were restored for future planning.
To address the remaining $1.2 million gap, NIC will utilize part of its fund balance. However, anticipated enrollment growth and planned cuts in athletic spending are expected to balance the 2027 budget without dipping into reserves.
Additionally, Greene stated that NIC has nearly completed the process of retaining their accreditation, with hopes of finalizing it in the fall.
