Lewis-Clark State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lewis-Clark State College charges a net price of $15,635/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $62,540. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,001, 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, Lewis-Clark State College does not clear its cost — it ranks #7 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) | $15,635/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $62,540 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,001 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,359/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$109,720 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lewis-Clark State College's own numbers. Net price $15,635 × 4 years = $62,540 total. Median earnings $46,001 fall $2,359 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 $62,540 bill in about 6.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Lewis-Clark State College students graduate with?
A median $18,500 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $46,001 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lewis-Clark State College students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $62,540 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $156,350 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lewis-Clark State College expensive compared with other Idaho colleges?
Its $15,635 net price runs $1,923 below the $17,558 median across the 14 Idaho colleges we profile, and $7,692 less across the full degree.