Idaho Colleges: Tuition, Debt & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Idaho: median public in-state tuition $5,528 (+0.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $47,237 (-13.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,555 (-21.4% vs U.S.) 99,609 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Total college enrollment: 99,609 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $5,528 (+0.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,237 (-13.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.6% (+1.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $11,384 (+14.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,555 (-21.4% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $10,555. Debt rank: #8 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Rocky Mountains of 5
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 52.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 75.6%
- Earnings rank: #42 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #24 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Tuition rank: #28 of 48 states (lower sticker = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #8 nationally of 48; #3 in Rocky Mountains of 5 (lower debt = better rank)
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Higher education in Idaho includes public research universities, private colleges, and community colleges serving transfer students and workforce training. About 99,609 students enrolled statewide in federal data, with median public in-state tuition near $5,528, and community college tuition averaging about $3,399. Major campuses include Boise State University and University of Idaho. The tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, debt, and employment outcomes for 8 reporting campuses against U.S. and Rocky Mountains medians.
Idaho vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho (ID) | $5,528 | $11,384 | $10,555 | 52.4% | 99,609 |
| Rocky Mountains (region median) | $4,912 | $11,571 | $10,555 | 46.2% | 762,883 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Idaho vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho (ID) | $47,237 | 89.6% | 75.6% | 8.7% | — | 67.0% | 0.45 |
| Rocky Mountains (region median) | $49,960 | 88.1% | 73.3% | 6.2% | — | 71.3% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Idaho vs peer states (Rocky Mountains region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho (ID) | $5,528 | $11,384 | $10,555 | 52.4% | 99,609 | $47,237 | 89.6% |
| Montana (MT) | $4,897 | $12,030 | $18,354 | 45.4% | 36,239 | $48,666 | 89.9% |
| Wyoming (WY) | $4,706 | $8,404 | $8,811 | 43.2% | 19,683 | $56,880 | 90.0% |
| Colorado (CO) | $5,140 | $12,045 | $11,338 | 47.9% | 256,174 | $52,231 | 88.1% |
| Utah (UT) | $6,507 | $10,360 | $10,300 | 50.5% | 355,292 | $50,130 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Idaho
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $50,096 | 91.7% | 81.8% | 4.3% | — | 79.7% |
| Public | 4 | $48,830 | 89.6% | 73.8% | 8.7% | — | 67.0% |
Educational attainment context (Idaho)
U.S. Census ACS 2024 — adults age 25+.
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.8% of adults 25+
- Some college, no degree (ACS): 24.81%
Program completions produced in Idaho (IPEDS 2024)
Award completions by CIP family — supply-side context for nursing, cosmetology, and other pathways. Not placement rates.
| Program area | Completions | Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38) | 1,597 | 12 |
| Cosmetology (CIP 12.04) | 1,397 | 16 |
| Computer Science (CIP 11.01) | 493 | 8 |
| Business (CIP 52.01) | 459 | 4 |
State workforce wages (BLS OEWS May 2024)
Context for graduate earnings — not a unemployment rate for recent grads (CEW state series not in repo).
- All occupations median annual wage: $46,470
- Education occupations (SOC 25-xxxx) median: $63,080
Program-level earnings in Idaho (Scorecard)
- Median 1-yr post-completion program earnings (across reporting campuses): $75,383
- Median 4-yr post-completion: $84,473
- Campuses with program earnings data: 9
Public 4-year in-state tuition trend: Idaho
Median published in-state tuition, public 4-year institutions. Source: College Scorecard multi-year pull.
Top 6 colleges in Idaho by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 70.8%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 62.5%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 60.2%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 57.3%, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 40.2%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 39.4%, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 90.7%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 90.6%, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 88.6%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 87.7%, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 84.6%, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 5 most selective colleges in Idaho (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 49.1%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 64.7%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 75.5%, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 87.2%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 87.7%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,596, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $80,700, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $77,965, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,383, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,863, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,420, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $34,904, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $112,120, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $103,530, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $90,053, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
-
Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $85,643, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $83,303, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $83,154, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $60,094, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,488, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,251, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,602, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,133, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,097, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,377, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,393, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,573, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,005, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,092, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,582, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,231, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,759, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,757, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,670, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,719, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,658, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,473, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,001, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,608, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,518, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 8 colleges in Idaho by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $175,182, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $158,503, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $155,813, Provo College-Idaho Falls Campus
Provo College-Idaho Falls Campus
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $149,464, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $131,376, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $130,189, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $119,272, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $34,650, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 7 most affordable colleges in Idaho (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $12,193, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $14,831, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 3, Net Price, $15,635, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $19,481, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 5, Net Price, $21,610, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 6, Net Price, $29,580, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 7, Net Price, $30,241, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 7 colleges in Idaho by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 81.8%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 78.8%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 77.4%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 75.6%, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 72.0%, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 61.1%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 56.2%, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
In-state tuition: Idaho vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Idaho median in-state tuition is $5,528, +0.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Idaho vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Idaho is $10,555 (-21.4% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $10,555. Rank: #8 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Rocky Mountains of 5.
Median earnings (10 years out): Idaho vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Idaho center around $47,237 (-13.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Idaho vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.6% at the median Idaho campus (+1.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Idaho median public in-state tuition is $5,528, about +0.3% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +12.5%.
Median graduate debt is $10,555 (-21.4% below the U.S. median of $13,432, and 0.0% vs the Rocky Mountains regional median of $10,555). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #8 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Rocky Mountains of 5 (1 = lowest median debt).
On published in-state tuition, Idaho ranks #28 nationally (1 = lowest median sticker among states with data).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Idaho are $47,237, about -13.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 89.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+1.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 8.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Idaho ranks earnings #42 and employment proxy #24 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Northwest Nazarene University (92.2%), The College of Idaho (91.3%), Boise State University (90.7%), University of Idaho (90.6%), Lewis-Clark State College (88.6%), Idaho State University (87.7%), Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus (84.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Idaho, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $50,096 (3 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $48,830 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Idaho is 52.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
National Student Clearinghouse data cite roughly 183,048 residents with some college but no credential in Idaho (YoY change 5.10%). That stock of incomplete credentials sits alongside the completion and employment metrics above.
City profiles in this state
Metro and city aggregates for places with at least three reporting campuses in the College Scorecard.
| City | Campuses |
|---|---|
| Boise | 8 |
| Idaho Falls | 3 |
| Nampa | 4 |
| Rexburg | 4 |
FAQ
How much does college cost in Idaho?
Median in-state tuition among reporting campuses in Idaho is $5,528 and median net price is $11,384. U.S. medians are $5,512 (tuition) and $9,967 (net price). Idaho tuition is about +0.3% vs the national median; net price is +14.2%.
What is typical student debt for graduates in Idaho?
Median federal loan debt among completers in Idaho is $10,555 vs a U.S. median of $13,432 (Idaho ranks #8 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do graduates earn in Idaho?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Idaho campuses reporting to the College Scorecard is $47,237 vs $54,323 nationally. Six-year medians are $42,115.
What share of Idaho graduates are working after college?
The federal employment-outcome proxy used on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 89.6% in Idaho vs 87.9% nationally.
How many colleges are in Idaho?
This profile aggregates 8 campuses with cost or outcomes data in Idaho and roughly 99,609 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private colleges are in Idaho?
Among campuses with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 4 public, 3 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top colleges in Idaho?
Rankings on this page are drawn from College Scorecard medians; standouts include highest 150%-time graduation rate: Northwest Nazarene University; highest 10-year earnings: University of Idaho; lowest net price among large campuses: Idaho State University. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Idaho?
Among 36 campuses in Idaho, 7 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Carrington College-Boise, Aveda Institute-Twin Falls, and College of Southern Idaho; 4 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Undenominational (1), Church of the Nazarene (1), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1).
How does Idaho compare to its Census region?
Idaho is in the Rocky Mountains region. Regional median in-state tuition is $4,912 and median debt is $10,555 vs $5,528 tuition and $10,555 debt in Idaho.
Sources & related
- U.S. national benchmarks
- All college profiles
- Idaho trade school profile
- States & cities with the most colleges
- Compare Boise State University vs Brigham Young University-Idaho vs University of Idaho
- Idaho college costs drilldown
- Top colleges in Idaho by ROI
- Student loan debt by state
- College enrollment statistics
- Supplemental: Census ACS attainment, IPEDS completions, BLS OEWS, NSC SCNC, tuition trends
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON