Idaho's college landscape is compact but surprisingly varied. Our database lists campuses from Coeur d'Alene in the Panhandle to Rexburg near the Wyoming line. Some are large public universities. Others are single-building schools that teach hair design, barbering or massage therapy. This page explains how these institutions are organized, who regulates them, and how to pick the right one for your goals.

The listings fall into four broad groups: public universities, community colleges, private or faith-based colleges, and career academies. The group matters. Admissions rules, tuition setting, financial aid and complaint procedures all differ from one to the next. Many Idaho students mix them, starting at a community college and finishing at a university.

Who Oversees Colleges in Idaho: State Board, Trustees and Licensing Boards

Idaho's public universities answer to the Idaho State Board of Education, a body created by the state constitution. The board also sets statewide K-12 policy, so one group of appointed members looks at schools from kindergarten through graduate study. For colleges, it approves new degree programs, sets tuition and fees at the four-year institutions, and appoints each president.

The four public four-year institutions are Boise State University in Boise, the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho State University in Pocatello and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. Boise State is the largest, with its main campus at 1910 West University Drive. The University of Idaho is the state's land-grant university and was founded in 1889. Lewis-Clark State, at 500 8th Avenue, serves the Lewiston and Clarkston area and offers both bachelor's degrees and career-technical programs.

Community colleges are organized differently. North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, the College of Western Idaho in Nampa, the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls each operate under their own board of trustees. These boards stay close to local employers and voters. That is why community college programs often track regional job markets, such as health care, welding, diesel technology or agriculture.

Private colleges sit outside the State Board's governance of public schools. The College of Idaho in Caldwell is a private liberal arts college. Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Boise Bible College is a small faith-based school in Boise. Private career schools, including most cosmetology and trade academies, are generally expected to register with the State Board of Education before enrolling students in Idaho. Programs that lead to a trade license add a second layer, because the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses issues licenses for cosmetologists, barbers and massage therapists.

Boise, Nampa and the Treasure Valley Compared With Rural Idaho

The Treasure Valley holds most of the state's choices. Ada County has the largest concentration of listings, and Boise has more than any other city. Besides Boise State, you will find a cluster of career schools along West Overland Road, including Boise Barber College at 7709 West Overland Road and Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Boise at 5244 West Overland Road. Aveda Institute-Boise is on West Fairview Avenue, Carrington College-Boise is on North Liberty Street, and Paul Mitchell The School-Boise is on South Vinnell Way. In Meridian, Broadview University-Boise operates from 2750 East Gala Court.

Next door, Canyon County adds a different mix. Milan Institute-Nampa sits at 1021 West Hemingway Boulevard, and The College of Idaho is at 2112 Cleveland Boulevard in Caldwell. Both cities lie west of Boise along Interstate 84, so many students live in one city and study in another. If you work during the day, compare evening and part-time schedules before you commit to a commute.

Outside the metro area, the picture changes. In smaller towns a school may offer a single program and enroll only a small group each term. Examples from our listings include College Of Massage Therapy at 98 Poplar Street in Blackfoot, Cosmetology School Of Arts And Science at 529 Overland Avenue in Burley, and Academy Di Firenze at 149 West Main Street in Jerome. These schools keep training local, but choices are limited. Rural students often combine a nearby campus with online courses or a regional community college.

The practical differences between metro and rural Idaho come down to a few points:

North, South and East: How Idaho's Regions Shape Your College Options

Idaho is long and narrow, and mountains divide it. The Panhandle faces Spokane and eastern Washington more than it faces Boise. North Idaho College, at 1000 West Garden Avenue in Coeur d'Alene, is the main public campus there and serves the surrounding Kootenai County communities.

North-central Idaho centers on the University of Idaho in Moscow and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. The University of Idaho's Moscow address in our database is 875 Perimeter Drive, and the campus sits a short drive from Washington State University across the border in Pullman. That makes Latah County a true college town. Lewiston, in Nez Perce County, sits on the Snake and Clearwater rivers at the lowest elevation in the state. Nearby in Lapwai, Northwest Indian College's Nez Perce campus at 302 A Street offers a tribal-college presence on the Nez Perce Reservation.

Eastern Idaho has its own cluster. Pocatello hosts Idaho State University and The School of Hairstyling at 141 East Chubbuck Road. Idaho Falls has the Steven Henager College campus at 901 Pier View Drive, along with the College of Eastern Idaho. Rexburg is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho at 525 South Center Street, and the school was known as Ricks College until 2001. In south-central Idaho, the Twin Falls area relies on the College of Southern Idaho and on small schools such as D & L Academy Of Hair Design at 113 Main Avenue East.

Checking an Idaho School Before You Enroll

Because our listings range from major universities to small academies, a few checks save time and money. Some entries may reflect schools that have since closed or changed names. ITT Technical Institute, for example, shut down all of its campuses nationwide in 2016. A quick phone call or website check is worth doing before you drive anywhere.

Start with accreditation. Idaho's public colleges and many private ones are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the regional accreditor for the Northwest. Career schools may hold national accreditation instead. Accreditation affects whether credits transfer and whether you can use federal financial aid.

Next, confirm that the program leads to the license you want. For hair, barbering and massage programs, ask how many training hours the school provides and how recent graduates performed on the licensing exam. Finally, ask for a written estimate of total cost, including kits, books and fees, not just tuition. For general questions, Boise State's main line is 208-426-1000, Lewis-Clark State College is 208-792-5272, and the University of Idaho's toll-free line is 888-884-3246.

Public colleges and universities in Idaho offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Idaho state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 15 cities across Idaho. They are spread across 12 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Idaho should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Idaho applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Idaho institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Idaho to find the nearest location.

Paying for College and Establishing Residency in Idaho

Cost is often the deciding factor, and Idaho gives students several tools. Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which most public and many private schools require for need-based help. The Idaho State Board of Education also administers the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, a state need-based award for residents attending an eligible Idaho institution. The Idaho Workforce Development Council runs Idaho LAUNCH, a program aimed at funding training for in-demand careers. Rules and deadlines change from year to year, so confirm details with a school's financial aid office before you apply.

Residency matters for tuition at the public universities and colleges. Idaho generally requires a period of physical presence in the state, commonly twelve consecutive months, along with clear intent to make Idaho your home. Each school's registrar makes the determination, so bring documents such as a driver's license, voter registration, a lease or property record, and state tax filings. Students from other Western states may qualify for reduced rates through the Western Undergraduate Exchange.

Geography also shapes cost. Students in Twin Falls County can start at the College of Southern Idaho and live at home. Students in Kootenai County can do the same at North Idaho College. Starting at a community college and transferring through Idaho's statewide general education core can lower the total price of a bachelor's degree.

Private schools such as The College of Idaho and BYU-Idaho set their own tuition and run their own aid offices. For those, compare the net price after scholarships rather than the published rate. Career schools in Boise, Nampa and Burley should give you a written enrollment agreement that lists total cost, schedule and refund terms. Read it before you sign.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Idaho

Idaho has eight public institutions. Four are four-year schools governed by the State Board of Education: Boise State University in Boise, the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho State University in Pocatello and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. Four are community colleges: North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, the College of Western Idaho in Nampa, the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls. Together they cover the Panhandle, the Treasure Valley, south-central Idaho and the east. Most residents live within a reasonable drive of at least one, though winter roads can lengthen trips.

Public institutions classify students as Idaho residents or nonresidents, and the tuition difference is large. In general, you must live in Idaho for about twelve consecutive months before the term starts and show that you intend to stay. Evidence typically includes an Idaho driver's license, vehicle registration, voter registration, a lease or deed, and Idaho tax filings. Exceptions exist for some military families. Because each school's registrar or admissions office makes the final decision, ask for the residency form early and keep copies of everything you submit. Students from other Western states should also ask about the Western Undergraduate Exchange.

Community colleges such as North Idaho College and the College of Western Idaho offer associate degrees, short certificates and workforce training, usually at lower tuition and with generally open admission. The universities, including Boise State and the University of Idaho, grant bachelor's and graduate degrees and have more selective admissions. Many students begin at a community college and transfer. Idaho's public schools share a general education core, so completed core courses should move between institutions, though specific majors can have extra requirements. Meet with an advisor at both schools before you register so that every credit counts toward your degree.

Start by enrolling in a school approved for the license you want. Our database includes Aveda Institute-Boise, Paul Mitchell The School-Boise, Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Boise, Oliver Finley Academy Of Cosmetology, Boise Barber College and D & L Academy Of Hair Design for hair and beauty work, plus College Of Massage Therapy in Blackfoot. After completing the required training hours, you apply for a license through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses and sit for the required exams. Before paying a deposit, ask the school how many hours are required, what the student kit costs and how many graduates passed their licensing exam.

Some entries may belong to schools that have closed, merged or changed names. ITT Technical Institute closed every campus in 2016, and other for-profit chains have also wound down. Call the listed number first, because a disconnected line is a warning sign. For records, contact the Idaho State Board of Education, which can point you toward where student records from closed Idaho schools are kept. If you hold federal loans from a school that closed, the U.S. Department of Education offers a closed school discharge in some cases. Keep copies of enrollment agreements, transcripts and loan paperwork.

Yes. Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg is the largest private campus and is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Students agree to an honor code covering conduct and dress. The College of Idaho in Caldwell is a private liberal arts college, and Boise Bible College trains students for ministry and related fields. Northwest Indian College operates a Nez Perce campus at 302 A Street in Lapwai, serving students on the Nez Perce Reservation. Private schools set their own tuition and admissions rules, so request a net-price estimate that includes grants and scholarships rather than comparing sticker prices alone.