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Idaho Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide is written for aspiring teachers looking to obtain a teaching degree in Idaho. There are many colleges and universities in the state that offer teacher preparation programs that prepare students for a career in education. Scroll down to find lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. For those interested in finding an approved teaching school in Idaho, this guide should help you locate a program that best suits your individual career objectives.

Table of Contents

Quick Facts

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Idaho Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Idaho according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Idaho State Department of Education (Idaho SDE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Idaho traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

State-Approved SchoolCAEP Accred.?5Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment6Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 6Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate6Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment6Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 6Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate6Net Price1
Boise State UniversityYes74018999%2611N.Av.$14,190
Brigham Young University IdahoNo1,44338595%———$6,871
College of IdahoNo——————$21,343
Idaho State UniversityYes1805196%4016100%$$12,999
Lewis-Clark State CollegeYes1415197%42N.Av.$10,957
Northwest Nazarene UniversityYes12045100%21N.Av.$21,616
University of IdahoYes2556594%956594%$14,929

  • — indicates none or not applicable.
  • N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Idaho

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022

  • Boise State University (#54)
  • University of Idaho (#80 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

  • Boise State University (#157 tie)

Select Idaho Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Boise State University

Boise State University’s College of Education is home to over 1,300 students and consists of five academic departments: Counselor Education; Curriculum, Instructional and Foundational Studies; Education Technology; Literacy, Language, and Culture; and Early and Special Education. These departments offer 48 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood and Elementary, a BA or Master’s in Teaching (MIT) in Special Education, a Master of Science (MS), an Education Specialist (EdS) or Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Educational Technology, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) Educational Leadership, and a MA or EdD in Curriculum & Instruction. Over 20 of the College’s programs are offered completely online. Several of these online programs are unique graduate certificates dedicated to growing educators’ competencies in remote instruction, such as Designing Accessible Online Education or Digital Literacies Instruction.

Lewis-Clark State College

Lewis-Clark State College (LC State), located in Lewiston and originally founded as a teacher’s college, has been training educators for over a century and provides several options for acquiring teaching endorsements and certificates. Its bachelor’s degree programs in Elementary Education and Secondary Education prepare new teachers with a combination of regular coursework and field experience teaching in classrooms. Students pursuing a degree in Secondary Education complete coursework in their chosen instructional subject area (options include English, Earth Science, Biology, Mathematics, and others), along with general education courses. LC State also offers an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and Certificate in Early Childhood Development, as well as minors in Instructional Technologies, Literacy, Middle School, and Special Education. Many of LC State’s education programs, including their Elementary Education program, are offered fully online and on the Lewiston campus.

University of Idaho

Located in Moscow just eight miles from the Washington state border lies the University of Idaho (U of I) and its College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. The College prepares teachers, educators, and administrators for the responsibility of educating individuals in private and public education careers across the K-20 continuum. The College is comprised of three departments: Curriculum & Instruction, Leadership & Counseling, and Movement Sciences. U of I confers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral levels, including a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Career & Technical Education; a BS in Elementary or Secondary Education; Master of Education (MEd) and Education Specialist (EdS) degrees in Educational Leadership; and an MEd in Special Education. In addition to the main campus, classes are offered at satellite locations in Coeur d’Alene and Boise, and online.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Idaho schools offer associate’s degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Boise Bible College*
8695 W Marigold St
Boise, ID 83714-1220
(208) 376-7731
www.boisebible.edu

Brigham Young University-Idaho*
525 S Center St
Rexburg, ID 83460-0001
(208) 496-2411
www.byui.edu

College of Southern Idaho*
315 Falls Ave
Twin Falls, ID 83301-1238
(208) 733-9554
www.csi.edu

College of Western Idaho
5500 E Opportunity Dr
Nampa, ID 83687-5505
(208) 562-3000
www.cwi.edu

Idaho State University*
921 S 8th Ave
Pocatello, ID 83209-5377
(208) 282-2700
www.isu.edu

Lewis-Clark State College*
500 8th Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501-2698
(208) 792-5272
www.lcsc.edu

North Idaho College
1000 W Garden Ave
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814-2199
(208) 769-3300
www.nic.edu

Northwest Nazarene University*
623 S University Blvd
Nampa, ID 83686-5897
(208) 467-8011
www.nnu.edu

Student Reviews

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Boise State University
1910 University Dr
Boise, ID 83725
(208) 426-1011
https://www.boisestate.edu/

Student Review: “The educational technology department at Boise State is the perfect learning environment for me. Its online program gives me the flexibility to work full-time teaching and caring for my family and being able to learn when I can find the time. I find that the coursework includes practical, real-life skills that I can implement and apply immediately to classroom instruction. Given the nature of the assignments I have had in the five courses I’ve taken thus far, I have found the faculty to be exceptional. They are even willing to go the extra mile to speak with me one-on-one over the phone to help solve technical issues. The elective courses provide students with cutting-edge topics like Games in Education offered by Dr. Chris Haskell. In this class, students are exposed to taking a course that has been completely gamified in every way. Students are encouraged to generate their own game-like ideas and take them to the next level so they can be used in classroom instruction. The technology integration course offered by Professor Schroder was amazing. Through every assignment, learners were exposed to new tools of the trade that could be used and implemented instantly in the classroom.” -Student at Boise State University
stars-5

Brigham Young University-Idaho
525 S Center St
Rexburg, ID 83460
(208) 496-2411
https://www.byui.edu/

Student Review: “Brigham Young University-Idaho’s teaching program for my degree was a great experience for me. I felt that the classes I was required to take to gain experience in my content area were helpful, useful, and applicable to my life outside of teaching. I felt my classroom experience helped me gain insight on how to be a teacher. The university was in process of improving the teaching degree for all teaching majors while I was in school. After learning how to apply teaching skills specifically to my content area and actually doing my student teaching, my confidence as a teacher flourished. Actually being in a classroom and having that hands-on experience with an actual full-time teacher close by to assist me as I learned was influential in my learning.”
stars-4

Idaho State University
921 S 7th Ave
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 282-3620
https://www.isu.edu/

Student Review: “I enjoyed my time at Idaho State University overall. There were numerous opportunities and requirements to observe and work with master teachers in varying capacities from an early point in the program. The Music Education program was somewhat isolated from the rest of the Education Department because of all the proprietary music requirements that the rest of the Education majors didn’t have to take which was good and bad. The most difficult thing I have had to deal with since graduation from ISU is classroom management. The Motivation and Management class that the rest of the Education majors have to take isn’t required of the Music Education majors.” -Brett B., student at Idaho State University
stars-4
Student Review: “Idaho State University has an excellent teacher education program. The professors are very helpful, and care whether you succeed or not. I feel as though I was overly prepared to be a great teacher, all because of this program. It is accredited, and rigorous, but worth the work. The administration is extremely nice and helpful. They go above and beyond to make sure you get your degree. There are ample scholarships available for teacher education candidates, and they are not too terribly hard to get. The only negative thing I would say about the program is that the sole elementary education advisor needs an assistant. She does so much work for us, above and beyond her duties. To conclude, being in the teacher education program at Idaho State University was a very positive experience.” – Student at Idaho State University
stars-4

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx