Idaho State University, Research university in Pocatello and Idaho Falls, United States
Idaho State University is a public research institution in Pocatello with additional campuses in Idaho Falls, Meridian, and Twin Falls. The system includes specialized colleges for health sciences, pharmacy, engineering, and a large medical training center in Meridian.
The institution began as the private Academy of Idaho, founded in 1901 by the Presbyterian Church and transferred to state control two years later. The name changed several times, with the current title adopted when it gained full university recognition in 1963.
The Pocatello campus sits within the traditional homeland of the Shoshone and Bannock peoples, whose names now appear on several campus buildings and programs. Students from rural Idaho communities form a large portion of the population, shaping campus life through their connection to the surrounding region.
The main campuses in Pocatello and Idaho Falls are open to the public, allowing visitors to walk through outdoor areas and view the architecture and green spaces. Many public events such as theater performances, concerts, and athletic competitions welcome non-students throughout the year.
The campus houses a natural history museum with paleontological collections from the region, including fossils from nearby mountain ranges. The grounds also contain a working nuclear research reactor used for training, one of the few still operating at an American university.
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