Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Idaho offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.
While there are only a few major colleges in Idaho, prospective students do have some excellent public options. In fact, just over half of the 13 colleges and universities in Idaho are public school options.
Boise State University, Idaho’s largest public university, serves roughly 17,000 students through both on-campus and online degree programs. Students at Boise State University can pursue both traditional and online degrees in fields like communications, earth sciences, and engineering.
Other major public universities in Idaho include Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College. This is noteworthy because Idaho residents who attend public online colleges in Idaho will still have access to in-state tuition discounts. Out of state students will pay more.
Idaho is also home to five private schools, including the state’s largest school, Brigham Young University Idaho, which has a student population of nearly 49,000 students.
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While students at BYU school can expect to pay around $4,000 in tuition, well below the national average, tuition for Idaho’s other private colleges costs between $13,000 and $30,000 per year.
The majority of Idaho’s colleges and universities can be considered small schools, serving student populations of 4,000 or less. However, the state’s largest schools offer the most affordable tuition fees, with both traditional and online students having access to tuition for as little as $4,000 per year.
Students who pursue their degrees in Idaho can study fields like chemistry, law, and anthropology at the University of Idaho; or religious studies, psychology, and literature at New Saint Andrews College. Additionally, Idaho offers a loan forgiveness-based financial program of up to $100,000 to physicians who work in the state’s rural areas.
French fries, mashed potatoes, tater tots, and even potato-inspired ice cream - Idaho is, as per its reputation, a potato lover’s dream. But it’s not all spuds in this state. Along with countless hiking trails, rivers perfect for rafting trips, and 72 types of gemstones, this state offers both on-campus and online degree programs with competitive tuition fees and excellent professors.
For more information, explore some of Idaho’s top programs and future career possibilities.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 5 liberal arts colleges in Idaho. To be ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in Idaho, schools must fully accredited institutions.
Tuition + fees
$4K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
50%
Student body
46K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/23
Brigham Young University–Idaho’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
56%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/23
College of Idaho’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
63%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/22
Northwest Nazarene University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
63%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1260/25
New Saint Andrews College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
990/19
Lewis–Clark State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.