Idaho university campus representing artificial intelligence education
Updated December 2025

Best Artificial Intelligence Programs in Idaho: Top Schools & Colleges Ranked

Ranking 6 top accredited artificial intelligence programs in Idaho. Compare schools by tuition, graduation rates, and career outcomes in Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian.

Programs Ranked6
Median Salary$95,670
Cost of Living97.5%
Tech Hubs3

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Programs in Idaho 2025

๐Ÿฅ‡ #1

Boise State University

Boise, IDPublic

106 artificial intelligence graduates annually, 89% graduation rate

$6K
Tuition/yr
89%
Grad Rate
77.3
Score
๐Ÿฅˆ #2

Idaho State University

Pocatello, IDPublic

28 artificial intelligence graduates annually, 87% graduation rate

$6K
Tuition/yr
87%
Grad Rate
62.9
Score
๐Ÿฅ‰ #3

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, IDPrivate

94 artificial intelligence graduates annually, N/A% graduation rate

$5K
Tuition/yr
62.1
Score
Key Takeaways
  • 1.Idaho offers 6+ accredited artificial intelligence programs across public and private universities
  • 2.Boise State University leads with 89% graduation rate
  • 3.Idaho software developers earn median $95,670 annually (BLS OES 2024)
  • 4.Tech opportunities concentrated in Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian
  • 5.Cost of living index: 97.5% of US average (below average)

Artificial Intelligence Education in Idaho: Overview

Idaho offers 6 accredited artificial intelligence programs, producing approximately 279 graduates annually. The state's tech industry is centered in Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian, with major employers including Micron Technology, HP, Clearwater Analytics.

With a median software developer salary of $95,670 (BLS OES May 2024) and a cost of living index of 97.5% compared to the US average, Idaho offers above-average purchasing power for tech workers.

The top artificial intelligence programs in the state are led by Boise State University, Idaho State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, each offering distinct advantages in terms of program size, graduation rates, and industry connections.

Idaho Artificial Intelligence Programs Rankings 2025

Rank
1Boise State UniversityBoise, IDPublic$5,94189%77.3
2Idaho State UniversityPocatello, IDPublic$5,99287%62.9
3Brigham Young University-IdahoRexburg, IDPrivate$4,656โ€”62.1
4University of IdahoMoscow, IDPublic$6,54083%58.5
5Northwest Nazarene UniversityNampa, IDPrivate$40,095โ€”43.8
6North Idaho CollegeCoeur d'Alene, IDPublic$4,000โ€”43.2

Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Programs in Idaho: Side-by-Side

SchoolBoise StateIdaho StateBrigham Young University-...U of IdahoNorthwest Nazarene
Rank
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
In-State Tuition
$5,941
$5,992
$4,656
$6,540
$40,095
Graduation Rate
89%
87%
N/A%
83%
N/A%
Annual Graduates
106
28
94
36
10
Acceptance Rate
84%
N/A
97%
79%
63%
Type
Public
Public
Private
Public
Private
Score
77.3/100
62.9/100
62.1/100
58.5/100
43.8/100

Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Artificial Intelligence in Idaho

Idaho offers 5 bachelor's-level artificial intelligence programs. The top schools for undergraduate study are Boise State University, Idaho State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho. These programs prepare students for entry-level positions paying approximately $66,969 in the Idaho market.

A bachelor's in artificial intelligence typically requires 120-128 credit hours and takes 4 years to complete. For national rankings, see our Best Artificial Intelligence Bachelor's Programs guide.

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Bachelor's Programs in Idaho

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 Boise State
$5,941
89%
106
77.3
#2 Idaho State
$5,992
87%
28
62.9
#3 Brigham Young University-...
$4,656
N/A%
94
62.1

Top Artificial Intelligence Schools for Master's Degrees in Idaho

For graduate study, Idaho offers 3 master's-level artificial intelligence programs. Leading institutions include Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University. A master's degree can boost earning potential by 15-25%, with senior roles in Idaho reaching $124,371 or more.

Explore our complete national rankings of the best artificial intelligence master's programs for more options beyond Idaho.

Top 3 Artificial Intelligence Master's Programs in Idaho

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 Boise State
$5,941
89%
18
53.5
#2 U of Idaho
$6,540
83%
14
51.2
#3 Idaho State
$5,992
87%
3
51.0

Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Colleges in Idaho

For budget-conscious students, the most affordable artificial intelligence programs in Idaho are at North Idaho College ($4,000/year), Brigham Young University-Idaho ($4,656/year), Boise State University ($5,941/year). These programs offer strong ROI given Idaho's competitive tech salaries.

At North Idaho College, a 4-year degree costs approximately $16,000 in tuition alone. With entry-level salaries around $66,969, graduates can typically recoup their investment within 0.5 years. See our Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Programs for national comparisons.

Most Affordable Artificial Intelligence Programs in Idaho (with ROI)

SchoolAnnual Tuition4-Year CostPayback PeriodType
#1 North Idaho College
$4,000
$16,000
0.5 years
Public
#2 Brigham Young University-...
$4,656
$18,624
0.6 years
Private
#3 Boise State
$5,941
$23,764
0.7 years
Public

Detailed Program Spotlights: Inside the Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Schools in Idaho

Below are detailed profiles of the top 5 artificial intelligence programs in Idaho, including admissions requirements, curriculum highlights, career outcomes, and what makes each program unique. Data sourced from official university websites and IPEDS 2023.

#1

Boise State University

Boise, ID โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $5,941 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 89% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 106 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 77.3 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 89% graduation rate
  • 106 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 77.3 / 100

Why Ranked #1

Ranked #1 based on graduation rate (89%), program size (106 graduates), state salary outcomes ($95,670), and selectivity (84% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

Boise State's Bachelor's in Artificial Intelligence, beginning Fall 2025, provides students with breadth and depth to succeed in this rapidly changing field, with elective courses in cutting-edge areas like large language models, reinforcement learning, computer vision, deep learning, and generative AI for business.

Available Specializations / Concentrations
large language modelsreinforcement learningcomputer visiondeep learninggenerative AI for business
#2

Idaho State University

Pocatello, ID โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-CampusOnline
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $5,992 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 87% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 28 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: N/A%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 62.9 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 87% graduation rate
  • 28 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 62.9 / 100

Why Ranked #2

Ranked #2 based on graduation rate (87%), program size (28 graduates), state salary outcomes ($95,670), and selectivity (N/A% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

Idaho State University's Computer Science program offers extensive research opportunities in cutting-edge areas like AI, AR/VR, and cybersecurity with faculty mentorship. The program benefits from partnerships with Idaho National Laboratory and provides substantial financial support through Idaho LAUNCH grants covering up to 80% of tuition.

Available Scholarships
$Idaho LAUNCH grants provide graduating high school seniors with up to 80% of their tuition and fees covered, up to $8,000, for programs including Computer Science
Available Specializations / Concentrations
Artificial IntelligenceCybersecurityMachine LearningAugmented RealityVirtual RealityMixed RealityData ScienceComputational Intelligence
#3

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, ID โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $4,656 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 94 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 97%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 62.1 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 94 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 62.1 / 100

Why Ranked #3

Ranked #3 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (94 graduates), state salary outcomes ($95,670), and selectivity (97% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

BYU-Idaho integrates generative AI tools throughout its mission to prepare students as disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their communities. The university maintains a University AI Office and emphasizes being a 'place of innovationโ€”permanently' with focus on teaching-focused faculty and real-world preparation.

Career Outcomes
  • Starting Salary: $90,000
  • Top Employers: Epic, Raytheon Technologies, Fast Enterprises, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Lucid Software, OrderBoard, Inc
Available Specializations / Concentrations
Computer ScienceData Science and Machine LearningEconomicsBusiness ManagementMathematical Theory
#4

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-CampusOnline
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $6,540 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 83% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 36 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 58.5 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 83% graduation rate
  • 36 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 58.5 / 100

Why Ranked #4

Ranked #4 based on graduation rate (83%), program size (36 graduates), state salary outcomes ($95,670), and selectivity (79% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

The University of Idaho offers both undergraduate and graduate AI/ML certificate programs with flexible online options and expert faculty from multiple disciplines, providing hands-on experience with machine learning models including data classification and clustering to solve real-world problems.

Admissions
  • Min GPA: 3.0
Program Details
  • Credits: 12 credits
#5

Northwest Nazarene University

Nampa, ID โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
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Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $40,095 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Artificial Intelligence Graduates: 10 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 63%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 43.8 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 10 artificial intelligence graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 43.8 / 100

Why Ranked #5

Ranked #5 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (10 graduates), state salary outcomes ($95,670), and selectivity (63% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

NNU offers the first and only data science major in the Northwest outside of major Pac12 institutions, with undergraduates conducting cutting-edge research in collaboration with prestigious organizations like NASA, NIH, and USDA. The program provides hands-on experience in interdisciplinary data science and artificial intelligence analytics with strong earning potential.

Admission Prerequisites
  • โ€ขCOMP2750: Data Structures
Career Outcomes
  • Starting Salary: $108,000 for data scientists with a computer science degree
Available Specializations / Concentrations
data sciencecybersecurity
Rankings & Recognition
  • first data science major in the Northwest
  • only data science major in the Northwest outside of the big Pac12 research institutions in Washington and Oregon
  • first among Christian liberal arts universities in the Western U.S.
$66,969
Starting Salary
$95,670
Mid-Career
+17%
Job Growth
335
Annual Openings

Career Paths

Machine Learning Engineer opportunities in Idaho with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$99,087
+23%

AI Research Scientist opportunities in Idaho with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$96,783

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051
+35%

Data Scientist opportunities in Idaho with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$97,859

NLP Engineer

SOC 15-2051
+23%

NLP Engineer opportunities in Idaho with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$102,962

Computer Vision Engineer opportunities in Idaho with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$103,969

Artificial Intelligence Programs in Other States

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Idaho if...
  • You want access to tech jobs in Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian
  • You're seeking lower cost of living (97.5% of US average)
  • You want to work at companies like Micron Technology or HP
  • You prefer Idaho's quality of life
Consider other states if...
  • You prioritize highest possible salary (consider CA, WA, NY)
  • You want more program options (CA has 100+ vs Idaho's 6)
  • You're looking for major coastal tech hub concentration

Artificial Intelligence in Idaho FAQ

Ranking Methodology

Based on 6 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024

Program Strength35%

Artificial Intelligence degree completions indicating program size, faculty, and resources (IPEDS 2023)

Graduation Rate25%

6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023

Selectivity20%

Admission rate from IPEDS 2023 (lower = more selective)

Career Outcomes20%

Idaho-specific salaries from BLS OES May 2024

Related Resources

Data Sources & Methodology

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System - program completions, graduation rates, tuition, admissions

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - Idaho salary data

2023-2033 occupational outlook and growth projections

Official University Websites

Program-specific admissions, curriculum, and career outcome data

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