Best Online Master’s Programs in Idaho 2023

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Idaho ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Northwest Nazarene University 88%
Boise State University 83%
University of Idaho 81%

Boise State University 18 to 1
Northwest Nazarene University 18 to 1
University of Idaho 16 to 1
Idaho State University 13 to 1

Northwest Nazarene University $34,390
University of Idaho $6,182
Idaho State University $5,928
Boise State University $5,532

Northwest Nazarene University $10,764
Idaho State University $8,380
University of Idaho $7,754
Boise State University $7,110

Northwest Nazarene University
Idaho State University
Boise State University
University of Idaho

University of Idaho 81%
Boise State University 83%
Northwest Nazarene University 88%

Idaho State University 13 to 1
University of Idaho 16 to 1
Boise State University 18 to 1
Northwest Nazarene University 18 to 1

Boise State University $5,532
Idaho State University $5,928
University of Idaho $6,182
Northwest Nazarene University $34,390

Boise State University $7,110
University of Idaho $7,754
Idaho State University $8,380
Northwest Nazarene University $10,764

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Idaho

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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

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.

What are Idaho’s Colleges & Universities?

Idaho’s Best Overall

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Idaho's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Idaho

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in Idaho.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

87530Personal Financial Advisors

114380Physicists

137960Database Architects

146580Nuclear Engineers

148160Architectural and Engineering Managers

Best Online Master’s Program in Idaho 2022

#1
University of Idaho
Moscow , ID
#1 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2023 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in Idaho 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
59%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/23
Online Master’s Degrees
MFA in Theater Arts

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Statistical Science

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS/MEngr in Computer Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Technology Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Curriculum and Instruction

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Physical Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Special Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching Mathematics

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Adult Organizational Learning and Leadership

Required Credits: 33-45
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MPA in Public Administration

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Psychology: Human Factors

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS/MEngr in Electrical Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEngr in Engineering Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Environmental Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Geological Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MNR in Natural Resources

Concentrations

Integrated Natural Resources
Fire Ecology and Management
Restoration Ecology and Habitat Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEngr in Mechanical Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEngr in Civil Engineering

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
Boise State University
Boise , ID
#2 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2023 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in Idaho 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
54%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
Online Master’s Degrees
MS in Accountancy

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Management
Construction Management
Healthcare Leadership

Required Credits: 49
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
MS in Cyber Operations and Resilience

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Educational Technology

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Education

Concentrations

Language, Literacy and Culture

Required Credits: 33-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Early and Special Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Special Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSW in Social Work

Required Credits: 61
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Respiratory Care

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
MSN in Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: 50
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Genetic Counseling

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 21 months
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
Idaho State University
Pocatello , ID
#3 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in Idaho 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2023 #3 Best Public Colleges in Idaho 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
39%
Student body
9K
Online Master’s Degrees
MS in Human Resource Development

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 18-24 months
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
MEd in Elementary Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Secondary Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in School Psychology

Required Credits: 31
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Instructional Design and Technology

Required Credits: 32
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Speech-Language Pathology

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 3 years
Format: Online
MA in Teaching

Required Credits: 33-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in School Psychology Examiner

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Spanish

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Sociology

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in History

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MHA in Health Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Dental Hygiene

Required Credits: 37
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Informatics

Required Credits: 39
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MPH in Public Health

Required Credits: 48
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MHA in Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN in Nursing

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Northwest Nazarene University
Nampa , ID
#2 Best Christian Colleges in Idaho 2023 #2 Best Small Colleges in Idaho 2023 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2023 #3 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
63%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/22
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 12-16 months
Format: Online
MEd in Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 1.5 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Leadership

Concentrations

Building Administrator

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 22 months
Format: Online
MA/MDiv in Youth, Children and Family Ministry

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA/MDiv in Missional Leadership

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA/MDiv in Spiritual Formation

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Pastoral Ministry

Required Credits: 40
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school

Best Online Master’s Programs in Idaho 2023

Top Online Master's Programs in Idaho

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Idaho

What are Idaho’s Colleges & Universities?

Idaho’s Best Overall

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Idaho

Best Online Master’s Program in Idaho 2022

University of Idaho

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Boise State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Idaho State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Northwest Nazarene University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Idaho’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest