The College of Idaho

About The College of Idaho

The College of Idaho is an independent private nonprofit institution founded in 1891. It describes itself as Idaho’s first private liberal arts college, and its main campus remains at 2112 Cleveland Boulevard in Caldwell. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities lists the College as an accredited four-year institution with baccalaureate and master’s authorization. Current College materials also show active doctoral-level instruction through its Doctor of Medical Science program. The institution is oriented around a comparatively small, residential learning community. Its official overview reports a community of more than 1,100 students, while its quick-facts page describes a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 18. These institution-reported figures help characterize the intended learning environment, but applicants should consult the latest institutional research data if exact enrollment or class-size measures are important to their decision. Undergraduate education combines a liberal arts foundation with structured career exploration and applied learning. The College reports that students participate in high-impact practices that may include collaborative research, internships, community-engaged courses, and study-away experiences. Graduate offerings span policy, education, leadership, data, accounting, exercise science, and health-related fields, although delivery format and eligibility vary by program. The physician-assistant master’s program is offered in partnership with Idaho State University, so applicants should distinguish joint or partner-based study from degrees delivered solely by the College.

First-year undergraduate admission is holistic and fully test-optional. The College says reviewers consider the overall high-school record, advanced coursework such as AP or IB, writing, recommendations, co-curricular activities, community involvement, and other achievements. Applicants may use either the Common Application or the College’s own application. Transfer and graduate candidates follow separate processes and should consult the page for their intended program. For Fall 2026 entry, the published first-year dates were November 15, 2025 for Early Action I, January 15, 2026 for Early Action II, and February 15, 2026 for Regular Decision. Rolling review began February 16, 2026 and continued while space remained. Because those dates belong to the Fall 2026 cycle and are already past or late-stage as of August 20, 2026, candidates seeking Fall 2027 entry should not reuse them; they should wait for or request the next official schedule. International first-year applicants use the same holistic and test-optional framework but must demonstrate English proficiency. Accepted evidence may include prior study in an English-based curriculum, residence in a country where English is spoken, or results from ACT, SAT, Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, or IELTS. International students must also submit certification showing sufficient funding for tuition and living costs. The cited page does not publish minimum English-test scores, so applicants should obtain current score requirements directly from admissions.

Undergraduate study is built around an interdisciplinary liberal arts model. The College has transitioned incoming students from its former PEAK structure to the Coyote Core curriculum. Current materials describe a 4+4+4 academic framework: students generally take four courses per term, attend classes across four days of the week, and may have access to pathways combining bachelor’s and master’s work. Continuing students who began under PEAK may retain that curriculum, so requirements depend on entry year and catalog. The newer curriculum organizes general education around career sectors while preserving room for a major, minors, specializations, certificates, and electives. Applicants should use the undergraduate catalog and a degree audit to confirm the exact requirements for their intended field. The College also highlights applied learning through research, internships, study away, and community engagement. First-year advising is structured: the advising team builds an entering undergraduate’s initial semester schedule using the student’s pre-registration questionnaire, transcripts, and other information. Peer tutoring and accessibility support are also available. Graduate options include applied public policy, educational leadership, organizational leadership, exercise science, data analytics, accountancy, physician-assistant studies, and Doctor of Medical Science study. Some programs are online or accelerated, and the physician-assistant degree is offered with Idaho State University. The advertised 3+1 pathways can allow eligible students to complete much of a master’s curriculum while pursuing a bachelor’s degree, but program availability, sequencing, admission standards, and any summer requirements should be verified before enrollment.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit institution founded in 1891
• Currently accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Small-campus model with an institution-reported 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio
• Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral-level study are represented in current offerings

Student Life & Environment

The Caldwell campus is designed around residential participation. The College states that unmarried students without dependent children must live in campus housing for three years, or six semesters. Students with dependent children are exempt, and other students may seek a waiver through the petition process. Incoming residents complete a Community Living Agreement after paying their enrollment deposit. Housing includes seven residence halls with traditional corridor rooms and suite-style arrangements. Available configurations include single, double, triple, and quad rooms, while some suites combine multiple bedrooms with a shared kitchenette. Because housing type and price differ, students should review the current room-selection and meal-plan information rather than assuming the average double-room allowance represents every option. Outside class, official student-life materials identify student organizations, club and intramural sports, performing arts, Greek life, student government, student media, and academic organizations. Support resources include health and counseling services, accessibility services, campus safety, basic-needs assistance, faith communities, intercultural engagement, and career and graduate-school guidance. Varsity athletics and performing arts are visible parts of campus life, but participation requirements and schedules vary. The three-year residency rule is especially important when comparing the College with institutions offering more flexibility to live off campus.

Location & Surroundings

The College’s campus is at 2112 Cleveland Boulevard in Caldwell, Idaho, in the Treasure Valley of southwest Idaho. It sits next to Caldwell’s historic district and is approximately 30 minutes northwest of Boise according to the College. This gives students a residential, smaller-city base with access to the cultural, employment, and transportation resources of Idaho’s largest metropolitan area. Caldwell and the surrounding Treasure Valley offer restaurants, community events, agriculture, and a regional wine industry. Boise adds museums, performing arts, dining, minor-league sports, government, and a broader employer base. Students considering internships or frequent off-campus work should investigate transport options and travel time rather than treating Boise as immediately adjacent to campus. The wider region provides access to hiking, camping, fishing, rafting, skiing, and snowboarding. Those opportunities generally require travel and suitable equipment, so they are best understood as regional advantages rather than on-campus amenities. Prospective students should also consider southwest Idaho’s seasonal weather and the practical value of a car for exploring beyond Caldwell.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For full-time undergraduates in 2026–2027, the College publishes annual direct costs of $54,350. This consists of $39,320 in tuition, a $370 one-time new-student experience fee, $1,355 in additional fees, $7,430 for Meal Plan B, and $5,785 as an average on-campus double-room charge. Published indirect allowances total $6,012, including health insurance, books and supplies, personal expenses, transportation, and loan fees. Individual spending and housing choices can differ, and students with comparable health coverage should verify whether they may waive the College’s insurance charge. Applicants should compare net price rather than the sticker price. The College says all admitted undergraduates are considered for merit- and talent-based scholarships, while FAFSA information is used to determine need-based support. Aid packages may combine scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Eligibility and renewal conditions differ, so students should review the actual award letter and calculate all four years, including housing and meal requirements. Career preparation is embedded partly through internships, research, community-engaged learning, study away, and other applied experiences. Academic advising includes degree planning and career advice, while student services provide career and graduate-school guidance. Campus employment may be available through work-study or other student positions, with opportunities posted through Handshake. No sufficiently current, independently verified salary or placement figure was found, so applicants should ask for program-specific internship access, graduate-school outcomes, and employment data rather than relying on general institutional claims.