North Idaho College to eliminate mens and womens golf programs in cost-cutting move [Video]

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — North Idaho College (NIC) announced it will eliminate its men’s and women’s golf programs as part of a broader restructuring of its Athletics program aimed at addressing the college’s unsustainable financial trajectory. The programs will be phased out after the Spring Semester of 2025.

In a press release, NIC explained that the restructuring is necessary due to increasing costs, including a $4 million budget shortfall in the current fiscal year. This follows the college’s decision to transition its athletics from the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) to the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC), a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The move, along with the decision to offer full tuition for international and out-of-state students—covering tuition, fees, room and board, books, and travel expenses—caused the athletics budget to surge from $2.2 million in 2023-2024 to $6.2 million in 2024-2025.

“The decision to cut golf …