The University of Idaho is the state's flagship land-grant research university, in Moscow, a small town in the rolling Palouse hills of northern Idaho. It is best known for engineering, natural resources, agriculture, computer science, business and law, with some of the lowest costs of any US flagship. Choose it for an affordable, outdoors-oriented degree with small classes.
Moscow, United States
Official website: uidaho.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
Among the lowest-cost flagship universities in the western US
1889 — Idaho's oldest public university
$27,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uidaho.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Natural Resources
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
Natural resources — one of the leading forestry, fisheries and wildlife schools in the US.
Low cost — non-resident tuition well below most western flagships.
Palouse — a rural setting of rolling wheat hills, with Washington State University eight miles away.
Kibbie Dome — one of the largest wooden-domed stadiums in the world.
Graduates join Micron, Idaho National Laboratory, Schweitzer Engineering, Boise's tech firms and federal agencies.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Natural resources alumni work for the US Forest Service, state agencies and conservation groups.
Engineering graduates move into Idaho's semiconductor and energy sectors.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,500-acre campus sits beside downtown Moscow, with the Administration Building's clock tower at its centre, the library and student union nearby and the engineering and agriculture buildings a short walk away.
Moscow is a small college town of about 25,000 people with very low rent, a walkable main street and hiking, skiing and rivers nearby. Spokane, the nearest big city, is 90 minutes away.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Idaho
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 15 February 2027 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most closing between 1 February and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical engineering, natural resources and mechanical engineering, admit for both fall and spring, while the one-year MBA is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Programs issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, natural resources, the MBA and mechanical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE is optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date, and strong applicants can receive awards that offset the non-resident tuition rate. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering and natural resources.
