2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Idaho
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Idaho
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
College Of Southern Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools in Idaho. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,603. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $28,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,289 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $25,104. Set against $9,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Western Idaho earned it the #3 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $13,083. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $30,932.
A rank of #4 makes Eastern Idaho Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Idaho Falls. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,038 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,507. That is a strong return on a $14,038 median debt.
North Idaho College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $10,114 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $27,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis Clark State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,610, while out-of-state students pay about $22,028. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $22,099 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Lewis Clark State College earn a median of $36,271 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $26,209. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $33,620 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $26,966. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $29,433 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise State University earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,894. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $40,886. That is a strong return on a $15,894 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwest Nazarene University came in at #10 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $25,923. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
