2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Idaho
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Idaho
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
For return on investment in social sciences, no school beat College Of Southern Idaho this year. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $39,099. That is a strong return on a $11,175 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for social sciences. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Students borrow a median of $15,790 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $32,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
College Of Western Idaho came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,446 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $12,497. Social Sciences graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $40,963 early in their careers.
University Of Idaho came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,679 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $29,085. That is a strong return on a $22,679 median debt. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Idaho State University earned it the #5 place for social sciences. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $30,547. Social Sciences graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $34,343 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,586 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $35,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
