2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Idaho
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Idaho
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Leading the list is College Of Southern Idaho, our #1 best value for liberal arts in Idaho. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Students borrow a median of $8,603 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $28,658. Set against $8,603 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Western Idaho one of the best values for liberal arts. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,083. Liberal Arts graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $30,932 early in their careers.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Eastern Idaho Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $6,750. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,038 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis Clark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,610, while out-of-state students pay about $22,028. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $22,099 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $36,271. Set against $22,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Idaho State University one of the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $26,966. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,433. Set against $26,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Boise State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,894 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $40,886 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,894 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwest Nazarene University placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,824. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,923. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Northwest Nazarene University admits about 65% of applicants.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
