by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Idaho? Our ranking highlights 10 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — scroll to Customize Your Rankings to switch views.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 10 schools to produce this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In This Year’s Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 10 schools in Idaho to determine which deliver the best value. We steer clear of subjective measures and weigh objective factors instead.
We start with the combined cost of average tuition, fees, and room and board — the published sticker price before any financial aid (the No Aid view). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. We then balance cost against student outcomes — completion, resources, and earnings after graduation.
The schools that score best offer the strongest return on your investment. See the full methodology.
Your ideal school depends on your goals and budget. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year in Idaho. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rexburg, ID. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. The median program debt is $13,287. Brigham Young University Idaho alumni report median earnings of $53,406 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Southern Idaho one of the best values in Idaho. Set in Twin Falls, ID, College Of Southern Idaho is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Out of the 10 schools in Idaho in this year's value ranking, Eastern Idaho Technical College landed the #3 spot. Set in Idaho Falls, ID, Eastern Idaho Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,750 for out-of-state students. Eastern Idaho Technical College students take on a median of $17,066 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,057 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,066 median debt.
You'll get strong value at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Nampa, ID, College Of Western Idaho is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. College Of Western Idaho students take on a median of $12,497 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lewis Clark State College one of the best values in Idaho. This public school is set in Lewiston, ID. In-state tuition and fees average $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Students borrow a median of $23,781 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,001. Set against $23,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
North Idaho College landed the #6 spot for value in Idaho this year. Set in Coeur d'Alene, ID, North Idaho College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. The median program debt is $14,688. North Idaho College alumni report median earnings of $40,081 a decade after entry. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Idaho ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Moscow, ID, University Of Idaho is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Typical student debt is $23,844. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,670. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho has an acceptance rate of 76%.
Idaho State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete their program here. Idaho State University alumni report median earnings of $45,608 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise State University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Boise State University alumni report median earnings of $51,658 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
College Of Massage Therapy placed #10 among the best values in Idaho. Based in Blackfoot, ID, College Of Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution. College Of Massage Therapy students take on a median of $6,734 in debt. Median earnings reach $24,368 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,734 median debt.
Evans Hairstyling College Rexburg landed the #11 spot for value in Idaho this year. Located in Rexburg, ID, Evans Hairstyling College Rexburg is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $16,984 ten years after entry. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Boise Barber College landed the #12 spot for value in Idaho this year. Located in Boise, ID, Boise Barber College is a private for-profit institution. The median program debt is $9,500.
The College Of Idaho landed the #13 spot for value in Idaho this year. The College Of Idaho is a private not-for-profit school based in Caldwell, ID. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,845. The median program debt is $23,789. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,473 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,789 median debt. About 49% of those who apply are admitted.
Headmasters School Of Hair Design landed the #14 spot for value in Idaho this year. Based in Lewiston, ID, Headmasters School Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $17,707 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Aveda Institute Boise came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. Graduates carry a median of $11,906 in student loans. Aveda Institute Boise alumni report median earnings of $24,470 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise Bible College landed the #16 spot for value in Idaho this year. Located in Boise, ID, Boise Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,802. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,140. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Austin Kade Academy landed the #17 spot for value in Idaho this year. Set in Idaho Falls, ID, Austin Kade Academy is a private for-profit institution.
Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Based in Rexburg, ID, Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg is a private for-profit institution. Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg students take on a median of $11,583 in debt. Median earnings reach $26,774 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Nampa landed the #19 spot for value in Idaho this year. This private for-profit school is set in Nampa, ID. Graduates carry a median of $10,556 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $25,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Salon Professional Academy Nampa placed #20 among the best values in Idaho. Based in Nampa, ID, The Salon Professional Academy Nampa is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $12,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $18,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Boise placed #21 among the best values in Idaho. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. Typical student debt is $10,556. Graduates go on to earn a median of $25,719 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,556 median debt.
Cosmetology School Of Arts And Science Llc came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Cosmetology School Of Arts And Science Llc is a private for-profit school based in Burley, ID. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $19,120.
D And L Academy Of Hair Design placed #23 among the best values in Idaho. Based in TWIN FALLS, ID, D And L Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. D And L Academy Of Hair Design students take on a median of $10,556 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,947 ten years after entry. Set against $10,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oliver Finley Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #24 spot for value in Idaho this year. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. Oliver Finley Academy Of Cosmetology students take on a median of $9,166 in debt. Median earnings reach $26,323 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Nazarene University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Northwest Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nampa, ID. Students from in state pay about $40,824 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,562 to complete their program here. Northwest Nazarene University alumni report median earnings of $51,719 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Nazarene University admits about 65% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also delivered strong value this year:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published 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 Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 10 schools evaluated. References
See our data sources and methodologies.