The College of Idaho — ROI, Cost & Payback
The College of Idaho charges a net price of $19,481/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $77,924. Graduates earn a median $48,473 ten years after entry, $113/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 689.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$75,664, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
The College of Idaho's 689.6-year payback ranks #1,271 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 1% of them, and #5 of 14 in Idaho.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,481/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $77,924 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,473 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $113/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 689.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$75,664 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on The College of Idaho's own numbers. Net price $19,481 × 4 years = $77,924 total. Median earnings $48,473 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $113 a year of premium. $77,924 ÷ $113 = 689.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$75,664. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do The College of Idaho students graduate with?
A median $24,500 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $48,473 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of The College of Idaho students graduate?
63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $77,924 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $123,689 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is The College of Idaho expensive compared with other Idaho colleges?
Its $19,481 net price runs $1,923 above the $17,558 median across the 14 Idaho colleges we profile, or $7,692 more across the full degree.