The University of Idaho claimed the No. 1 spot for Best Value Public University in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday. The ranking marks the seventh consecutive year the Moscow-based institution has placed among the top public universities for value.
From 2020 through 2024, the University of Idaho held the No. 2 position in this category, trailing only the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The current list is dominated largely by private institutions, making the public university’s top finish notable.
Lewis-Clark State College also saw gains in the annual assessment. LCSC moved up two spots to rank No. 6 among Top Public Schools in the West regional college category. The College, located in the Lewis-Clark Valley, has climbed steadily since ranking No. 10 in 2022 and No. 9 in 2023. It held the No. 8 position in both 2024 and 2025.
Lewis-Clark State College is the only institution in Idaho or Washington to appear in the Top 10 for this year’s West category. The school offers the lowest tuition rates among Idaho’s public four-year institutions, a factor that likely contributes to its standing in value-focused metrics.
University of Idaho President Scott Green said the ranking reflects the institution’s daily efforts to provide an education that remains accessible to students and families.
“This ranking reflects what we work hard to deliver every day: an exceptional education that remains within reach for students and families,” Green said.
Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton noted that the ranking captures the school’s ongoing progression in providing value to the state.
“LC State continues to enhance the incredible value it provides to students, families, communities, and Idaho, and we’re grateful that this ranking captures that progression,” Pemberton said.
The rankings are designed to offer guidance for prospective students and their families. U.S. News & World Report determined the standings using 17 criteria. These factors include graduation rates, first-year retention rates, Pell Grant graduation performance, college graduate earnings, borrower debt levels, peer assessments, financial resources per student, standardized test scores, and student-faculty ratios.