College of Western Idaho (CWI) serves Boise and the wider Treasure Valley from locations in Ada and Canyon counties, with its primary academic campus in Nampa. The institution began with a 2007 vote to create a local community-college district; it welcomed its first students in 2008 and started a full academic schedule in Nampa in 2009. It is now an accredited public college offering transfer study, career and technical education, certificates, apprenticeships, dual credit, adult education and applied bachelor’s pathways.
What the college offers and how long a program takes
CWI’s 2026–27 catalog lists programs in business, health sciences, information technology, engineering and trades, agriculture, public safety, arts and humanities, education, and social sciences, among other fields. A transfer associate degree is commonly planned as about 60 semester credits, while career certificates and associate programs vary by curriculum. Applied bachelor pathways require upper-division credits and take longer than a two-year degree. The official program page publishes the credit map and course sequence for each credential; some clinical and technical tracks also have prerequisites, selective admission, background checks or cohort start dates.
The college’s open-enrollment policy describes general access, not automatic placement in every program. Most new applicants submit a free application online throughout the year. Degree or certificate students age 17 and older submit official high-school, GED/HiSET or prior-college records according to their background. Sixteen-year-olds have a separate petition process. After admission, students complete placement steps and orientation, then register. Use the current application checklist and program page before choosing a semester.
Tuition for 2026–27 and the full student budget
CWI publishes lower-division tuition of $172 per credit hour for Idaho residents in district. Idaho residents outside the district pay the same base rate plus $50 per credit, capped at $500 per semester. Nonresidents and international students pay $336 per credit. Idaho dual-credit high-school students pay $75 per credit. Upper-division applied bachelor coursework is priced separately: $301 per credit for in-district residents, $301 plus the out-of-district charge for other Idaho residents, and $351 for nonresidents and international students. Students taking six or more credits pay a $55 instructional support fee each semester; course materials, labs and equipment can add charges.
As a rough comparison, 30 lower-division credits would mean $5,160 in base tuition for an in-district Idaho resident before the semester support fees and program costs. That is not the complete annual cost of attendance. CWI’s budget estimate also accounts for housing, meals, books, transportation and personal expenses, and varies by residency and living arrangement. Check the published tuition table and the separate cost-of-attendance estimate; verify residency classification with Student Accounts.
Financial aid and scholarships
Students seeking federal aid begin with the FAFSA and CWI’s school code, 042118. Aid can include grants, work-study and loans, depending on eligibility. CWI’s scholarship portal uses one application to match accepted students with institutional, foundation, state and outside awards. Applicants need to be admitted and have a myCWI login; filing the FAFSA before opening the portal is required to be matched for need-based scholarships. Matching is not an award guarantee.
Idaho residents may also review Idaho LAUNCH, which can cover 80 percent of tuition and fees for an eligible in-demand career program, subject to a maximum and other conditions, and the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, worth up to $3,500 per academic year for qualifying applicants. Both have residency, education, program and deadline rules. Confirm the current application window and eligible career list with the state and CWI before building a budget around aid.
English classes before college-level study
CWI Adult Education offers English Language Learner classes for adults at beginning and advancing levels. Classes are free for eligible adults age 16 or older who are not enrolled in public school, and the program also teaches GED preparation, reading, writing, mathematics, digital skills and workplace communication. In Boise, current English classes are listed at the Ada County Center’s Mallard Building; Nampa has additional adult-education locations. Students start by scheduling an intake appointment to review eligibility, skill level and available sections.
Eligibility includes documentation of an approved citizenship or immigration category, and the college says its adult English program does not satisfy F-1 student visa requirements. These noncredit classes help learners strengthen English and prepare for college or career training; they are distinct from credit-bearing composition courses. Once ready, a student can meet an advisor, complete placement and orientation, and transition to an academic or technical program. The Adult Education page explains current locations and how to begin.
Choosing among Boise and Nampa locations
In Boise, Ada County Center is currently spread across the Pintail, Lynx and Mallard buildings: academic support and tutoring at Pintail; One Stop and testing at Lynx; adult English and GED preparation at Mallard. CWI plans to move those Boise offerings to a new Micron Academic Center downtown in Fall 2027, so a student visiting during 2026–27 should use today’s address and timetable. A separate Micron Training Center in southeast Boise is already active for advanced mechatronics and semiconductor-manufacturing instruction; it is not the same project as the future downtown academic center.
Nampa is the college’s main academic base. The Academic Building hosts general teaching and student learning services; CapEd gathers One Stop, Learning Commons, tutoring, wellness and veterans’ support; Norco Health & Science contains clinical and science instruction; and Micron Education Center has advising, testing and computer services. The Agricultural Sciences Complex has greenhouses, an animal barn, a shop and working agricultural facilities. Canyon County Center provides trades, workforce, public-safety, adult-education and academic classes. The profiles below give the building-specific address and role; check the course schedule because a program can use more than one site.
Getting there and planning the first visit
CWI says parking is free at its campus locations. Students and employees can obtain a pass for Valley Regional Transit fixed routes and OnDemand service with a valid CWI ID and sticker from One Stop. The college lists connections among Canyon County Center and several Nampa buildings, including an interconnecting shuttle. Routes and service can change, so check the current transit information and the college map before leaving. For Boise appointments, ask whether the office is at Lynx, Pintail or Mallard.
Begin with a program goal, compare its current credit map and entry rules, submit the free application, and request official transcripts early. Then complete placement and orientation, file the FAFSA, and use the scholarship portal after admission. If college-level English feels like a barrier, contact Adult Education for an intake appointment rather than assuming that a noncredit class provides automatic entry to a degree program. Tuition, aid and course locations vary, so verify them with the college before registering or travelling.
Start with the CWI application, browse the 2026–27 program catalog, compare tuition and fees, and contact One Stop Student Services for help with the next step.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building
1360 S Eagle Flight Way, Boise, ID 83709
<p>Pintail is the Ada County Center building for students who need advising, a computer lab, library access, tutoring or the Writing & AI Literacy Center. Its location at 1360 S. Eagle Flight Way sits within CWI’s Blackeagle Center, near Overland and Maple Grove roads. The college lists evening week
Boise-side academic support, advising, library, tutoring and writing help.
College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building
9300 W Overland Road, Boise, ID 83709
<p>The Lynx Building is the Ada County address for One Stop Student Services and Testing Services. One Stop connects students with admissions, tuition and aid, registration, records, billing and payments; the college recommends checking in online before an in-person visit. Testing Services handles p
One Stop student support and testing services in Boise.
College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building
9100 W Black Eagle Drive, Boise, ID 83709
<p>Mallard is CWI’s Boise location for Adult Education. The college offers English Language Learner classes for adults at beginning and advancing levels, along with GED preparation, reading, writing, mathematics and digital skills. The stated purpose is practical: strengthen communication for everyd
Free adult English, GED preparation and foundational education in Boise.
College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building
5500 E Opportunity Drive, Nampa, ID 83687
<p>The Academic Building is the primary classroom address on CWI’s Nampa Campus. Its listed services include a computer lab, Math Solutions Center and Work-Based Learning Center, alongside classrooms for transfer study and career programs. The college opened its Nampa campus in 2009, when it began d
The main Nampa teaching building, with computer lab, math help and work-based learning.
College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center
5600 E Opportunity Drive, Nampa, ID 83687
<p>CapEd Student Success Center brings several practical services together in a new central building on the Nampa Campus. Students can use One Stop Student Services, the Learning Commons, tutoring, disability support, counseling and wellness services, success coaching, student clubs and veterans and
Student services hub with Learning Commons, One Stop, tutoring, wellness and veterans support.
College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building
5700 E Opportunity Drive, Nampa, ID 83687
<p>Opened in August 2025, the Norco Health & Science Building concentrates clinical and laboratory teaching at CWI’s Nampa campus. The official development plan lists microbiology, biology, certified nursing assistant, dental assisting, medical assisting, occupational therapy assistant, physical the
Purpose-built clinical and laboratory instruction for health careers.
College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center
5725 E Franklin Road, Nampa, ID 83687
<p>The Micron Education Center is a separate teaching and support site south of the main Nampa Campus cluster. CWI lists advising, a computer lab, bookstore services and testing at the building, whose address is 5725 E. Franklin Road. Testing Services also uses this site for placement and other asse
Advising, testing, computer lab and classes in a separate Nampa instructional building.
College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex
16941 N Progress Way, Nampa, ID 83687
<p>CWI’s Agricultural Sciences Complex is a working teaching environment north of the main Nampa Campus, near Progress Way and Cherry Lane. The college describes a 40-acre site with two academic buildings, greenhouses, an animal barn, a shop, a working farm, experimental labs and shared learning are
Horticulture, landscape design, animal science, floral work and applied agricultural labs.
College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center
2407 Caldwell Boulevard, Nampa, ID 83651
<p>Canyon County Center is one of CWI’s original instructional sites and remains a distinct option in Nampa. The college says the center hosts workforce development, skilled trades, adult education, law-enforcement training and academic classes. Its program mix makes it especially relevant to people
Workforce, skilled trades, adult education, law-enforcement training and academic classes.
College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center
7075 S Eisenman Road, Building C, Boise, ID 83716
<p>CWI’s Micron Training Center extends career education into Boise’s Red River Commerce Center, less than a mile from Micron Technology’s corporate headquarters. The college describes it as a shared training environment where students and industry partners work near one another. Its named course ar
Industry-linked semiconductor manufacturing and advanced mechatronics training.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Pintail Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — CapEd Student Success Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Norco Health & Science Building ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Education Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Agricultural Sciences Complex ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Canyon County Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Micron Training Center ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website ↗
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College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Lynx Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Ada County Center, Mallard Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College of Western Idaho — Nampa Campus Academic Building ↗
Primary source
College of Western Idaho · Accessed October 27, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.