Best Small Colleges in Idaho 2026
Small colleges in Idaho are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.
Key Takeaways
- Many of the best small colleges in Idaho have strong ties to their local communities, encouraging students to engage in service-learning projects, internships, and community-based research, giving them real-world experience and a sense of connection to the region.
- The best small colleges in Idaho often offer small class sizes and close-knit academic communities, providing personalized attention from faculty and fostering strong mentor-student relationships.
- With Idaho’s beautiful natural landscapes, these colleges emphasize outdoor learning opportunities, offering programs and activities that integrate environmental studies and outdoor recreation, appealing to students who enjoy an active lifestyle.
Best Small Colleges in Idaho in 2026
This guide highlights the best small colleges in Idaho — primarily four‑year institutions with undergraduate focal points and student populations under 5,000. We identify 4 small colleges in Idaho; the searchable list and filters used to locate these campuses are available here: 4 small colleges. Inclusion requires full accreditation and a student body below 5,000.
Below you’ll find concise profiles that focus on what matters for prospective students and advisors: academic strengths, campus character, program offerings, and practical considerations like location, campus size, and fit. Use these snapshots to narrow choices quickly and decide which schools warrant a deeper look.
Best Small Colleges in Idaho
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2026 #2 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 2026 #5 Best Colleges in Idaho 2026 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/27
Career Outlook for degree at College of Idaho
Cost of Degree: $36,030Expenses: $15,335Starting Salary: $57,623Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is College of Idaho known for?
College of Idaho’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Idaho 2026 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2026 #3 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 2026 #4 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2026
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
60%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1122/24
Career Outlook for degree at Northwest Nazarene University
Cost of Degree: $40,895Expenses: $17,216Starting Salary: $60,370Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Northwest Nazarene University known for?
Northwest Nazarene University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Literature
- Education
- History
- Physics
- Social Work
- Political Science
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Northwest Nazarene University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 150
- Completion Time: 5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Christian Ministry
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 3 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2026 #4 Best Public Colleges in Idaho 2026 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2026
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
39%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Lewis–Clark State College
Cost of Degree: $7,388Expenses: $17,330Starting Salary: $52,487Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Lewis–Clark State College known for?
Lewis–Clark State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Literature
- Chemistry
- Education
- Sociology
- Mathematics
- Communications
- Biology
- History
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
Lewis–Clark State College’s Online Degrees
BA in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BAS in Business
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Business And Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business And Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Business Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sport Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sport Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Justice Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Justice Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BTC in Early Childhood Development
- Required Credits: 10
- Format: Fully online
BA in Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 83
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communication Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Communication Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in General Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Education
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences And Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in General Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Business
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Social Science
Degree Concentrations
- Anthropology
- History-Secondary Education
- Sociology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Social Science
Degree Concentrations
- Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSW in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Computed Tomography
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Computed Tomography
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Lpn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Radiographic Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Radiographic Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #3 Best Christian Colleges in Idaho 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #4 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 2026 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2026
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
52%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1256/26
What is New Saint Andrews College known for?
New Saint Andrews College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Idaho’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.
