The cost of college in Idaho — and what it pays back
Across the 14 Idaho institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $17,558/yr, $656 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $43,833 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 5 of the 14 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Idaho's 14 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University-Idaho | $8,221 | $53,406 | 6.5 yrs |
| University of Idaho | $14,831 | $54,670 | 9.4 yrs |
| Boise State University | $21,610 | $51,658 | 26.2 yrs |
| Northwest Nazarene University | $29,580 | $51,719 | 35.2 yrs |
| The College of Idaho | $19,481 | $48,473 | 689.6 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Southern Idaho | $6,095 | $40,916 | no payback |
| Brigham Young University-Idaho | $8,221 | $53,406 | 6.5 yrs |
| College of Eastern Idaho | $8,778 | $42,057 | no payback |
| North Idaho College | $10,575 | $40,081 | no payback |
| Idaho State University | $12,193 | $45,608 | no payback |
How many Idaho colleges actually pay for themselves?
5 of 14 — 36% of the Idaho institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Idaho graduates out-earn the national median?
Idaho graduates report a median $43,833 ten years after entry, $284 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.