by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Idaho, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **10** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 10 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Boise State University this year in Idaho. Located in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,059. Typical student debt is $24,311.
The strong outcomes at Carrington College Boise earned it the #2 place in Idaho. Located in Boise, ID, Carrington College Boise is a private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,494 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,288 to complete a degree here.
University Of Idaho came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Idaho. Set in Moscow, ID, University Of Idaho is a public institution. University Of Idaho posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,246. Graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rexburg, ID. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates 50% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,853. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Northwest Nazarene University earned it the #5 place in Idaho. Northwest Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nampa, ID. Northwest Nazarene University graduates 71% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,824 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,330. The median student debt is $27,562.
The College Of Idaho placed #6 among the best colleges in Idaho. The College Of Idaho is a private not-for-profit school based in Caldwell, ID. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,845. The College Of Idaho graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,968. Typical student debt is $23,789.
Lewis Clark State College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lewiston, ID. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Median early-career earnings reach $44,496. The median student debt is $23,781.
Idaho State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University is a public institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,446. Typical student debt is $24,640.
Eastern Idaho Technical College landed the #9 spot in Idaho this year. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,314 early in their careers. Eastern Idaho Technical College students take on a median of $17,066 in debt.
College Of Southern Idaho came in at #10 in this year's ranking. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,099. College Of Southern Idaho students take on a median of $11,175 in debt.
College Of Western Idaho came in at #11 in this year's ranking. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,963 early in their careers. College Of Western Idaho students take on a median of $12,497 in debt.
North Idaho College placed #12 among the best colleges in Idaho. 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. North Idaho College graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,489. The median student debt is $14,688.
Paul Mitchell The School Nampa came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Nampa, ID. Median early-career earnings reach $21,620. Typical student debt is $10,556.
Aveda Institute Boise landed the #14 spot in Idaho this year. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $17,824. Typical student debt is $11,906.
Rexburg College Of Massage Therapy came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Rexburg, ID, Rexburg College Of Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $17,692. Graduates carry a median of $6,544 in student loans.
Boise Barber College landed the #16 spot in Idaho this year. Located in Boise, ID, Boise Barber College is a private for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $19,417. Graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
Oliver Finley Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. Early-career graduates earn a median of $20,258. Students borrow a median of $9,166 to complete a degree here.
Paul Mitchell The School Boise came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Boise, ID. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,620 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,556 to complete a degree here.
D And L Academy Of Hair Design came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in TWIN FALLS, ID, D And L Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $11,717. D And L Academy Of Hair Design students take on a median of $10,556 in debt.
Boise Bible College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Boise, ID, Boise Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. Boise Bible College posts a six-year graduation rate of 30%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,802.
Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Rexburg, ID, Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg is a private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $17,385 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,583 to complete a degree here.
College Of Massage Therapy did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Blackfoot, ID, College Of Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $17,692. Students borrow a median of $6,734 to complete a degree here.
Headmasters School Of Hair Design did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Lewiston, ID, Headmasters School Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $18,690. Typical student debt is $12,000.
Aveda Institute Twin Falls ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in Twin Falls, ID. Graduates go on to earn a median of $19,015 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $9,400 in student loans.
Provo College Idaho Falls Campus landed the #25 spot in Idaho this year. Located in Idaho Falls, ID, Provo College Idaho Falls Campus is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,068 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,978. Typical student debt is $31,651.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.