Spotlight on The College of Idaho

Today's college spotlight takes us to the western edge of Idaho, about half an hour west of Boise, where we find The College of Idaho. Students have easy access to the cultural events, dining, and shopping to be found in the greater Boise area. They will also find numerous recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, skiing, and canoeing in the vicinity of the college.

But The College of Idaho is attractive for reasons other than its location. For one, the college's total price tag is lower than most similar private liberal arts colleges, and the college also does well with financial aid. The great majority of students receive some form of grant aid.

The College of Idaho also has a curriculum that distinguishes it from other small liberal arts schools. The college's PEAK curriculum (professional, ethical, articulate, knowledgeable) allows students to graduate in four years with a major and three minors. The PEAK model challenges students to gain depth in four areas: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and a professional field. While many liberal arts colleges have a curriculum that looks like a huge checklist of requirements, The College of Idaho gives students more flexibility in their course selection and greater depth in multiple fields of study. And students can expect to get to know their professors well -- the college has few graduate students, and academics are supported by a 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 11.

To learn more about the school, check out The College of Idaho admissions profile as well as the school's official website. If you have visited or attended The College of Idaho, please share your impressions with prospective students below.

I regularly spotlight great colleges that might be off the radar of college applicants. If there's a college you'd like to see featured here, please post your recommendation in the College Admissions Forum.