Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Top 10 Private Colleges in Idaho
Curated by Chief Revenue Officer Kory White · CRO Syndicate
Top 10 Private Colleges in Idaho
Direct Answer
The Best Overall private college in Idaho is The College of Idaho in Caldwell, the state's oldest private liberal-arts college, whose distinctive PEAK curriculum (four academic minors plus a major), small classes, and strong graduate-school and career outcomes make it the premier private option.
The Best Value pick is Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, a Christian university whose tuition runs below most private peers while delivering strong professional programs, generous aid, and solid graduation rates. This list is built for students and families weighing private colleges across Idaho, with a focus on academics, outcomes, value, and fit.
Every pick uses real, publicly reported data from each institution, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, U.S. News, and Niche.
Note that Idaho's private-college sector is small, so this list includes the state's accredited private institutions and closely tied regional options.
How We Ranked the Top 10
We weighted each college against the priorities families raise when comparing private institutions, drawing on published figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, U.S. News, Niche, and each school's profile. The weighting:
- Academic quality and program strength , 25%
- Graduation and outcome rates , 20%
- Value relative to net price , 20%
- Teachers and class size , 15%
- Environment, culture, and fit , 12%
- Student support and aid , 8%
A college with a familiar name but thin outcomes drops fast. The winners pair solid academics with strong graduation rates, real value after aid, and a culture that fits real families.
1. The College of Idaho 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Type: Private Liberal Arts, coed | Net price (avg): ~$22,000 | Best for: Students seeking a rigorous liberal-arts education with a distinctive curriculum
The College of Idaho in Caldwell is the state's oldest private college, enrolling roughly 1,100 students, and is consistently the highest-rated private institution in Idaho. Its signature PEAK curriculum has every student complete a major plus minors across the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field, producing well-rounded graduates.
The college posts a graduation rate near 60%, small classes near an 11:1 ratio, and strong placement into graduate, medical, and law schools. Its athletics and outdoor programs are active.
Pros:
- Distinctive PEAK curriculum (major plus four minors)
- Small classes near an 11:1 ratio
- Strong graduate, medical, and law-school placement
- Oldest and highest-rated private college in the state
Cons:
- Net price higher than the public flagships
- Small size limits some program breadth
Verdict: The College of Idaho wins on balance, pairing a distinctive liberal-arts model with strong outcomes.
2. Northwest Nazarene University
Type: Private Christian, coed | Net price (avg): ~$20,000 | Best for: Students wanting strong professional programs at a faith-based university at lower cost 💎 BEST VALUE
Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) in Nampa enrolls about 2,000 students and delivers strong professional programs in nursing, education, business, and engineering at a net price below most private peers, with generous institutional aid. NNU posts a graduation rate near 55–60%, small classes, and a faith-based culture grounded in the Nazarene tradition.
Its strong regional employer ties support placement in healthcare and education.
Pros:
- Net price below most private peers with generous aid
- Strong nursing, education, and business programs
- Small classes and faith-based culture
- Strong regional employer ties
Cons:
- Faith-based program is central
- Graduation rate trails the top liberal-arts colleges
Verdict: The value champion, delivering strong professional programs and aid at a lower faith-based price point.
3. Brigham Young University-Idaho
Type: Private Religious (LDS), coed | Net price (avg): ~$11,000 | Best for: Students seeking very low tuition within an LDS-affiliated university
Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg enrolls a large student body and is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its tuition is among the lowest of any four-year university in the country for members, and it offers broad programs in business, education, health professions, and engineering technology.
The year-round track system and emphasis on teaching are defining features, with strong career-focused outcomes.
Pros:
- Very low tuition, among the lowest nationally
- Broad professional and technical programs
- Teaching-focused, year-round track system
- Strong career-oriented outcomes
Cons:
- Religious honor code governs student life
- Lower tuition for non-members and a faith-centered culture
Verdict: The lowest-cost private option in Idaho, with broad career-focused programs for students who fit its culture.
4. Boise Bible College
Type: Private Bible College, coed | Net price (avg): ~$13,000 | Best for: Students preparing for ministry and Christian service careers
Boise Bible College in Boise is a small institution focused on ministry, biblical studies, and Christian leadership, enrolling a few hundred students. It offers close mentorship, small classes, and a defining emphasis on preparing students for church and missions work.
For students with a clear ministry calling, it provides focused, affordable preparation.
Pros:
- Focused ministry and biblical-studies programs
- Close mentorship and small classes
- Affordable net price
- Strong church and missions placement
Cons:
- Narrow program focus
- Limited offerings outside ministry tracks
Verdict: The top focused option for students with a clear ministry or Christian-service calling.
5. New Saint Andrews College
Type: Private Classical Christian, coed | Net price (avg): ~$18,000 | Best for: Students seeking a great-books classical Christian education
New Saint Andrews College in Moscow is a small classical Christian college built around a great-books, liberal-arts curriculum with a strong emphasis on theology, rhetoric, and the Western canon. It enrolls a few hundred students in very small classes and emphasizes a unified, rigorous core.
Its distinctive model appeals to students wanting a classical Christian framework.
Pros:
- Rigorous great-books classical curriculum
- Very small classes and close community
- Strong theology and rhetoric emphasis
- Unified, distinctive academic model
Cons:
- Narrow, specialized curriculum
- Limited professional and STEM offerings
Verdict: The top pick for students wanting a rigorous classical Christian great-books education.
6. University of Idaho (private-college alternative comparison)
Type: Public flagship (included for comparison) | Net price (avg): ~$15,000 | Best for: Families comparing private value against the state flagship
Because Idaho's private sector is small, families often weigh the privates against the University of Idaho in Moscow, the state's land-grant flagship. With a graduation rate near 60%, broad programs, and low in-state net price, it sets the value bar that private colleges must beat on fit, class size, or program specialization.
Families should compare carefully.
Pros:
- Broad program menu and research opportunities
- Low in-state net price
- Graduation rate near 60%
- Strong land-grant resources
Cons:
- Large classes compared with the privates
- Less individual attention than small colleges
Verdict: The public benchmark every Idaho private college is measured against on value.
7. Lewis-Clark State College (comparison option)
Type: Public (included for comparison) | Net price (avg): ~$12,000 | Best for: Students wanting career and technical programs at low cost
Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is a small public college offering strong career-technical, nursing, and business programs at low net cost. It is often compared against the privates by families prioritizing affordable professional preparation. Its small size and applied focus are strengths.
Pros:
- Low net cost and applied focus
- Strong career-technical and nursing programs
- Small, supportive environment
- Strong regional employer ties
Cons:
- Limited liberal-arts breadth
- Smaller campus and program menu
Verdict: A strong low-cost benchmark for career and technical preparation.
8. Idaho State University (comparison option)
Type: Public (included for comparison) | Net price (avg): ~$13,000 | Best for: Students targeting health-professions programs at low cost
Idaho State University in Pocatello is the state leader in health professions and pharmacy, and families weighing the privates often compare its strong professional programs and low net price. With broad offerings and a graduation rate near 45–50%, it anchors the value comparison for health-focused students.
Pros:
- State leader in health professions and pharmacy
- Low net price
- Broad professional programs
- Strong clinical placement
Cons:
- Larger classes than the privates
- Graduation rate trails the top schools
Verdict: The benchmark for health-professions value that privates must compete against.
9. Boise State University (comparison option)
Type: Public (included for comparison) | Net price (avg): ~$13,000 | Best for: Students wanting a growing research university in the state's largest city
Boise State University in Boise is Idaho's largest and fastest-growing university, and families comparing the privates often weigh its strong business, engineering, and health programs, urban location, and graduation rate near 50%. Its scale and city setting offer opportunities the small privates cannot match.
Pros:
- Strong business, engineering, and health programs
- Urban location with internship access
- Growing research profile
- Broad program menu
Cons:
- Very large classes compared with the privates
- Less individual attention
Verdict: The large-university benchmark for students prioritizing scale and city opportunity.
10. Stevens-Henager College (Boise)
Type: Private Career College, coed | Net price (avg): varies | Best for: Students wanting accelerated career-focused degrees
Stevens-Henager College in Boise is a private career-focused college offering accelerated programs in healthcare, business, and information technology. It emphasizes fast completion and career placement for working and adult students. Prospective students should compare cost and outcomes carefully against the public options above.
Pros:
- Accelerated, career-focused degree programs
- Flexible scheduling for working students
- Healthcare, business, and IT tracks
- Career-placement emphasis
Cons:
- Higher cost relative to public alternatives
- Narrow, applied program focus
Verdict: A career-focused private option for working and adult students wanting accelerated degrees.
What to Look For When Choosing a Private College
- Graduation and outcome rates , A college that graduates most of its students and places them into jobs or graduate school signals consistent outcomes, not just a strong brochure.
- Net price after aid, not sticker price , Generous institutional aid can make a private college competitive with the public flagships; always compare net cost.
- Class size and student-teacher ratio , Smaller ratios and individual attention are a core reason families choose small private colleges.
- Program strength and specialization , A distinctive program like the College of Idaho's PEAK curriculum or NNU's nursing track may serve a student far better than a higher overall ranking.
- Mission and culture fit , Faith-based, classical, or liberal-arts missions vary widely; visit and gauge whether your student will thrive.
- Value against the public benchmark , Because Idaho's private sector is small, weigh each private school against the public flagships on fit, class size, and specialization.
What matters less than marketing implies: a college's reputation number, its newest building, or its sticker price alone. Fit, program access, net cost, and a supportive faculty relationship affect a student's outcome far more than a single headline figure.
FAQ
Which private college is the best overall in Idaho? The College of Idaho in Caldwell earns the top spot for its distinctive PEAK curriculum, small classes near an 11:1 ratio, and strong graduate, medical, and law-school placement.
What is the best value private college in Idaho? Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa is our best value, delivering strong professional programs in nursing, education, and business with generous aid at a net price below most private peers.
What is the cheapest private college in Idaho? Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg has tuition among the lowest of any four-year university in the country for members of its sponsoring church, with broad career-focused programs.
Does Idaho have many private colleges? No , Idaho's private-college sector is small. The main accredited private institutions are The College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University, BYU-Idaho, New Saint Andrews College, and Boise Bible College, so families often compare them against the public flagships.
Are private colleges in Idaho faith-based? Several are , NNU, BYU-Idaho, Boise Bible College, and New Saint Andrews all have religious missions, while The College of Idaho is a nonsectarian liberal-arts college.
How do Idaho's private colleges compare with the public universities? The privates compete on small classes, individual attention, and distinctive programs, while public schools like University of Idaho, Boise State, and Idaho State offer broader programs and low in-state net price; weigh fit and net cost carefully.
Bottom Line
For Idaho families, The College of Idaho is our Best Overall private college, pairing its distinctive PEAK curriculum and small classes with strong graduate-school and career placement. Northwest Nazarene University is our Best Value, delivering strong professional programs and generous aid at a lower price point.
For the lowest cost, BYU-Idaho leads; for a classical Christian education, New Saint Andrews stands out. Because Idaho's private sector is small, weigh each school against the public flagships on fit, net cost, and program strength, and your student will be set up to succeed.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education , College Scorecard
- U.S. News , Best Colleges in Idaho
- Niche , Best Private Colleges in Idaho
- The College of Idaho , academics and the PEAK curriculum
- Northwest Nazarene University , academics and admissions
- Brigham Young University-Idaho , programs and tuition
- New Saint Andrews College , academics
- Idaho State Board of Education , institutions
*Private colleges in Idaho review , best private colleges Idaho, rankings, ratings, and a review of the top picks for students and families.*