The College of Idaho

What is the history of The College of Idaho?

The College of Idaho is a private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho, founded in 1891 by Presbyterian minister William Judson Boone. Its original purpose was to provide higher education in the region, and its undergraduate liberal arts focus remains central to the institution.

The college became Albertson College of Idaho in 1991, recognizing longtime supporter and businessman Joe Albertson. It restored the name The College of Idaho in 2007. Prospective students may encounter both names in older records; they refer to the same institution. The college's later development of its PEAK curriculum - an approach that combines a major with study across several fields - also helps explain its present academic identity.

What are the faculties and departments at The College of Idaho?

The College of Idaho organizes its undergraduate education around liberal arts and sciences rather than a large system of separate professional colleges. Its PEAK curriculum is designed to let students pursue a major and multiple minors across broad areas of study.

Undergraduate options include biology, chemistry, computer science, business, psychology, education, history, English, music, and the visual and performing arts. Students interested in health professions should distinguish a preparatory undergraduate course of study from admission to a later professional program. The college also offers graduate-level study; applicants should consult the current academic catalog for the credential, prerequisites, and application process associated with a particular program.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1. That describes institution-wide enrollment relative to faculty, not the size of every class or the availability of a particular course. Students comparing majors should examine course schedules and the requirements for completing their chosen combination of major and minors.

What is the location of The College of Idaho?

The College of Idaho is in Caldwell, a city in southwestern Idaho's Treasure Valley. It has a residential campus rather than a network of branch campuses spread across the state.

Caldwell is part of the broader Boise-area region. That gives students access to a larger employment and cultural market while placing day-to-day campus life in a smaller city. Boise Airport is the principal nearby commercial airport; students traveling without a car should plan how they will get between the airport, Caldwell, and any off-campus placement or job. First-year students are permitted to park a car on campus, although parking rules and any associated charges should be checked separately.

What is the mission and vision of The College of Idaho?

The College of Idaho presents its educational purpose as a liberal arts education that connects learning across disciplines and prepares students for lives of purpose, work, and service. Its PEAK curriculum is a concrete expression of that philosophy: students study beyond a single major rather than concentrating exclusively on one field.

The institution has Presbyterian roots, but its history should not be mistaken for a requirement that students hold a particular religious belief. Applicants for whom religious affiliation or campus policies matter should review the college's current governing and student-life documents. Mission statements describe institutional aims; they do not, by themselves, establish what every student will experience.