Idaho doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 10 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 10 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Rexburg came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Idaho For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Idaho's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Brigham Young University-Idaho |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 44,397 (110 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 40,543 |
| Median rent | $1,004 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $15,246 |
Rexburg is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho. There are 110 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,004 a month, and the average cost to attend is $15,246 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Idaho, New Saint Andrews College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,052 (31 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 26,286 |
| Median rent | $927 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,738 |
Moscow is home to University of Idaho, New Saint Andrews College. There are 31 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $927 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,738 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Boise State University, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus, Boise Bible College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 18,361 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 237,242 |
| Median rent | $1,446 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,124 |
Boise is home to Boise State University, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus, Boise Bible College. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,446 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,124 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 0 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 130,138 |
| Median rent | $1,805 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,961 |
Meridian is home to Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,805 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,961 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Provo College-Idaho Falls Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 257 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 67,725 |
| Median rent | $1,075 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,585 |
Idaho Falls is home to Provo College-Idaho Falls Campus. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,075 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,585 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The College of Idaho |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,041 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 66,516 |
| Median rent | $1,264 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,542 |
Caldwell is home to The College of Idaho. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,264 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,542 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northwest Nazarene University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,024 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 110,319 |
| Median rent | $1,420 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $55,163 |
Nampa is home to Northwest Nazarene University. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,420 a month, and the average cost to attend is $55,163 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | College of Southern Idaho |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,810 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 54,164 |
| Median rent | $1,082 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $12,803 |
Twin Falls is home to College of Southern Idaho. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,082 a month, and the average cost to attend is $12,803 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Idaho State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,583 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 57,635 |
| Median rent | $948 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,527 |
Pocatello is home to Idaho State University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $948 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,527 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lewis-Clark State College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,385 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 34,651 |
| Median rent | $1,027 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,925 |
Lewiston is home to Lewis-Clark State College. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,027 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,925 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 10 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Idaho
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 10 towns in Idaho that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Idaho.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Idaho.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Idaho
If you're looking for the best college towns in Idaho, Rexburg is where to start.
The best college towns in Idaho are Rexburg, Moscow, Boise, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Caldwell, Nampa, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Lewiston.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Idaho for 2026?
Rexburg is the best college town in Idaho for 2026, followed by Moscow and Boise.
How did you rank the best college towns in Idaho?
We looked at every town in Idaho with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Idaho?
Lewiston ranks last of the 10 college towns we ranked in Idaho for 2026.
Best College Towns In Idaho For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rexburg, ID | 40,543 | 44,397 | $1,004 |
| 2 | Moscow, ID | 26,286 | 8,052 | $927 |
| 3 | Boise, ID | 237,242 | 18,361 | $1,446 |
| 4 | Meridian, ID | 130,138 | 0 | $1,805 |
| 5 | Idaho Falls, ID | 67,725 | 257 | $1,075 |
| 6 | Caldwell, ID | 66,516 | 1,041 | $1,264 |
| 7 | Nampa, ID | 110,319 | 1,024 | $1,420 |
| 8 | Twin Falls, ID | 54,164 | 3,810 | $1,082 |
| 9 | Pocatello, ID | 57,635 | 7,583 | $948 |
| 10 | Lewiston, ID | 34,651 | 2,385 | $1,027 |
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