Idaho State University is located in southeastern Idaho in the city of Pocatello (pop. 51,466). It has a large outreach in Idaho Falls, with smaller ones in Boise and Twin Falls.

Enrollment for fall semester 2003 was 13,802 students, including 10,552 undergraduates.

The foci are liberal arts and vo-tech, especially health care. The nursing school is a primary focus, as is the College of Pharmacy.

On March 11, 1901, Governor Frank W. Hunt signed Senate Bill 53 establishing the Academy of Idaho contingent upon private land donations being made for its site. By 1910 enrollment had reached nearly 300 students and the academy purchased three city blocks to help meet the growth of the Academy. In 1915 it became Idaho Technical Institute. The end of World War I brought an influx of students to the school and enrollment surged to over 1000 students. The early 1920’s saw the beginning of intercollegiate competition; at this time the Bengal Tiger became the school mascot.

Despite a fierce push to establish the school as a four-year school in its own right, it was reorganized as the University of Idaho - Southern Branch in 1927. The battle to become a four-year school did not succeed until 1947, when it became Idaho State College. This milestone was soon followed by another as enrollment passed the 2000 student mark in 1948.

The final change came in 1963 when the school was granted university status and became Idaho State University.

Idaho State has won three national championships in intercollegiate sports. Their boxing teams won in 1953 and 1957. In 1981 the Bengal football team won the NCAA 1-AA national championship.

Home football games are played in Holt Arena – originally known as the ASISU Mini Dome – only the second domed football stadium ever built after the Houston Astrodome. It was completed in 1970 at a cost of 2.8 million dollars which was paid for through a voluntary increase of student fees.