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7 Best Colleges in Idaho
What’s Covered:
Idaho is known for many things, one of them being the Potato Capital of the World. You might not necessarily think of great higher education institutions when you hear Idaho, but the state has far more to offer than spuds. In this post we’ve rounded up the 10 best colleges in Idaho.
Our Ranking Methodology
For our list of the 10 best colleges in Idaho we mainly focused on school quality, student outcomes, and return on investment (ROI). We also examined data such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others. Students can see our full rankings if you want to see how schools across the country compare.
Best Colleges in Idaho
1. The College of Idaho
Location: Caldwell
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 900
Founded in 1891, College of Idaho is the first private liberal arts college in the state. With a tight-knit community of multi-talented individuals, the college offers a distinctive “PEAK” curriculum, in which students pursue one major and three minors, all while working with advisors to design a personalized curriculum. Students also participate in study abroad programs, undergraduate research, an internship program, and much more, preparing them for the world beyond graduation.
Learn more about College of Idaho and what it takes to get accepted.
2. University of Idaho
Location: Moscow
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Middle 50% SAT: 1010-1220
Middle 50% ACT: 20-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 9,500
University of Idaho was first established in 1889 and only had four students in its first graduating class. Today, Idaho’s land-grant university has expanded substantially and offers accessible education across fields like Agricultural and Life Sciences, Art and Architecture, Business and Economics, Education, Health, Engineering, Social Sciences, and more—93 undergraduate majors in total. It is considered Idaho’s primary research university.
Learn more about University of Idaho and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Northwest Nazarene University
Location: Nampa
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Middle 50% SAT: 1020-1250
Middle 50% ACT: 20-27
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,400
Northwest Nazarene opened as an elementary school in 1913. The first college degrees were conferred in 1917. Now, 109 years later, the university offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees across the arts, humanities, sciences, and professions.
A community-driven institution, NNU is just one of eight regional colleges and universities in the U.S. affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, but many students have a background in other faiths or no religious affiliation at all.
Learn more about Northwest Nazarene University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Boise State University | BSU
Location: Boise
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Middle 50% SAT: 1030-1220
Middle 50% ACT: 21-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 22,000
“We do things like they’ve never been done before,” BSU says. Known for innovation and groundbreaking research, the university offers more than 200 areas of study, including Nursing, Psychology, Computer Science, Kinesiology, and Construction Management. BSU also has the country’s only master’s degree in Raptor Biology! BSU is actually a trailblazer in many respects—there’s even a NASA astronaut teaching on campus.
Learn more about BSU and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Brigham Young University-Idaho
Location: Rexburg
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Middle 50% SAT: 1010-1210
Middle 50% ACT: 20-26
Undergrad Enrollment: 42,300
Founded on the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYUI remains adherent to its principles today. Ninety-nine percent of the university’s students are members of the Church, and all students commit to following an honor code agreeing to embrace behaviors aligned with the teaching of Latter-day Saints.
BYUI delivers an affordable education that fosters diverse interests and prepares students for lifelong learning. At the core of this is the Learning Model, an innovative approach that allows students to take what they’ve learned outside of the classroom, as well as collaborate with one another.
Learn more about BYUI and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Idaho State University
Location: Pocatello
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 10,400
ISU is known not only for its exceptional academics but also for the natural beauty of its campuses, including its main campus in Pocatello, along with additional locations in Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. The university has more than 250 programs, both in-person and online, along with special opportunities, such as Early College for students still attending high school, an Honors Program, study abroad, and Bengal Bridge—a summer semester for incoming freshmen.
Learn more about ISU and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Lewis-Clark State College
Location: Lewiston
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Middle 50% SAT: 890-1110
Middle 50% ACT: 17-22
Undergrad Enrollment: 3,600
At Lewis-Clark State, students pay the lowest tuition of any of Idaho’s public four-year institutions. The college offers two- and four-year degrees, with 130 degrees and certificates in total, across fields like education, nursing, social work, and more. Small class sizes, exemplary teaching, and career preparation are just some of the perks Lewis-Clark State has to offer. The college also calls itself a leader in online education, with more than 20 fully online programs.
Learn more about Lewis-Clark State College and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Think of attending a college in Idaho? Or perhaps you have your sights set elsewhere. Either way, it’s important to find out your chances of admission. And using our free chancing engine, you can. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to improve your profile!
Our chancing engine can also help you build a balanced school list of colleges inside and outside of Idaho. By providing your odds of acceptance, you can strategically assign safety, target, and reach schools and put yourself in the best position to get into a college that fits your needs and meets your expectations. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
