Distance education offerings for higher learning in Idaho could be considered sparse at first glance, despite the wealth of online programs offered to K-12 students. There are no colleges or universities that are completely online in this northwestern state. However, every major college and university in Idaho offers degrees that are available in part or entirely over the internet. Students can make use of the Idaho Electronic Campus (IEC) eLearning database to determine which online classes are available to students statewide. In order to deliver consistent and flexible learning, IEC administers classes through the Blackboard and Brain Honey learning management systems, as well as other technological tools and practices. At some Idaho colleges, such as Lewis-Clark State, up to 70% of the student body takes some amount of their courses online.
Tuition rates in Idaho have increased 30% over the course of the last decade. While the cost of college for residents and non-residents has risen in Idaho, the state also suffered the sixth deepest cuts for spending on education over the course of the last five years. Student spending accounted for 47% of the tuition in 2014 for Idaho colleges, as opposed to just 17% in 1994. Something prospective online degree candidates might consider, however, is that rates for online learners in Idaho are the same or less expensive in nearly every case than the tuition for on-campus students. Finally, despite economics hurdles, the most rapid growth in two-year public enrollments between 2002 and 2012 over the past decade took place in Idaho.
Review our database below to read more about Idaho's online degree options. For information about how to fund your education, explore the resources for more than 130 scholarships in Idaho, also found on this page. Visit our section on Higher Learning Initiatives or browse state facts to see how Idaho stacks up against other U.S. colleges and universities.
Featured Online Programs
13 Colleges in Idaho
Additional Resources
Official State Links
- Idaho State Department of Education
- Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
- Idaho State Board of Education
College Savings
- IDeal: This is the official 529 tuition saving plan for the state of Idaho and is open to all U.S. citizens and legal residents regardless of where they live. IDeal allows subscribers to open accounts with as little as $25 and to select their contribution commitment and risk level. The beneficiary can be any person with a valid social security number; a familial relationship is not necessary.
Education Nonprofits
- Idaho College & Career Success Academy: Open to students in grades 9 through 11, this is a first-of-its-kind high school program in Idaho. The program provides specialized instruction to high school students interested in either a college or technical career path.
- Albertson Foundation: The foundation's goals are predicated on the understanding that a high school education alone is not enough to ensure life success. The program works with students from an early age to prepare them for their careers of the future.
- Idaho State University College Readiness: The aim of this program is to assist students who are in need of remediation in basic reading, writing and math.
Higher Education News
- The Chronicle of Higher Education, Idaho News: A daily, online newspaper that brings educators, administrators, and curious minds all the latest news in higher education. The link above takes you to items dealing with Idaho specifically.
- Idaho.gov's Higher Education Research Council (HERC): HERC, founded in 1998, promotes four-year public institutions in the state. The program also oversees grants, research projects and general funding initiatives for a number of state school's research centers.