Idaho State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Idaho State University charges a net price of $12,193/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $48,772. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,608, 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, Idaho State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #6 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) | $12,193/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $48,772 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,608 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,752/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,039 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$103,812 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Idaho State University's own numbers. Net price $12,193 × 4 years = $48,772 total. Median earnings $45,608 fall $2,752 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 $48,772 bill in about 4.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Idaho State University students graduate with?
A median $20,039 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $45,608 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Idaho State University students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $48,772 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $125,056 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Idaho State University expensive compared with other Idaho colleges?
Its $12,193 net price runs $5,365 below the $17,558 median across the 14 Idaho colleges we profile, and $21,460 less across the full degree.