College of Eastern Idaho — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Eastern Idaho charges a net price of $8,778/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $17,556. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,057, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, College of Eastern Idaho does not clear its cost — it ranks #8 of 14 Idaho colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $8,778/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $17,556 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,057 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,303/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$143,616 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Eastern Idaho's own numbers. Net price $8,778 × 2 years = $17,556 total. Median earnings $42,057 fall $6,303 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $17,556 bill in about 1.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do College of Eastern Idaho students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 29% of the $42,057 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Eastern Idaho students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $17,556 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $45,015 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Eastern Idaho expensive compared with other Idaho colleges?
Its $8,778 net price runs $8,780 below the $17,558 median across the 14 Idaho colleges we profile, and $17,560 less across the full degree.