Boise, Idaho Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Boise, Idaho: median public in-state tuition $11,802 (+114.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $44,588 (-18.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,555 (-20.5% vs U.S.) 19,477 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Boise serve students across Idaho with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 19,477 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,802. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Boise, Idaho and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Boise vs Idaho & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, Idaho | $11,802 | $20,033 | $10,555 | 45.9% | 19,477 |
| Idaho (state median) | $5,528 | $11,384 | $10,555 | 52.0% | 99,609 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Boise, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, Idaho | $44,588 | 87.7% | 67.5% | 16.6% | — | 52.0% | 0.77 |
| Idaho (state median) | $47,237 | 89.6% | 75.6% | 8.7% | — | 67.0% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Idaho (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, Idaho | $11,802 | $20,033 | $10,555 | 45.9% | 19,477 | $44,588 | 87.7% |
| Rexburg | $4,800 | $8,643 | $11,734 | 55.5% | 44,734 | N/A | N/A |
| Moscow | $12,942 | $14,831 | $21,982 | 65.6% | 8,052 | $54,670 | 90.6% |
| Nampa | $22,120 | $20,666 | $10,138 | 70.8% | 7,711 | $51,719 | 92.2% |
| Twin Falls | $3,360 | $14,298 | $8,700 | 33.2% | 3,898 | N/A | N/A |
| Coeur d'Alene | $3,396 | $10,575 | $9,778 | N/A | 2,619 | N/A | N/A |
| Lewiston | $7,610 | $13,598 | $14,528 | 40.2% | 2,477 | $46,001 | 88.6% |
| Lewiston | $7,610 | $13,598 | $14,528 | 40.2% | 2,477 | $46,001 | 88.6% |
| Idaho Falls | $11,229 | $14,795 | $12,000 | N/A | 1,817 | $39,645 | 83.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Boise, 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, 60.2%, Boise State University
Boise State University
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, 90.7%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 84.6%, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Most selective college in Boise, 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, 87.2%, Boise State University
Boise State University
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $66,420, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $83,154, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $45,251, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,393, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $50,005, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,757, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $51,658, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,518, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, $137,324, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $31,176, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Boise, 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, $21,610, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $30,241, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Top 2 colleges in Boise, 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, 78.8%, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 56.2%, Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
In-state tuition: Boise, Idaho vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Boise, Idaho median in-state tuition is $11,802, +114.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Boise, Idaho vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Boise, Idaho is $10,555 (-20.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $10,555.
Median earnings (10 years out): Boise, Idaho vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Boise, Idaho center around $44,588 (-18.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Boise, Idaho vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.7% at the median Boise, Idaho campus (-0.3 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
Boise, Idaho median public in-state tuition is $11,802, about +114.1% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +140.3%.
Median graduate debt is $10,555 (-20.5% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Boise, Idaho are $44,588, about -18.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-0.3 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 67.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 16.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 52.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Boise State University (90.7%), 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
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Boise, Idaho is 45.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Boise?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Boise, Idaho with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Boise?
Median in-state tuition in Boise is $11,802 and median net price is $20,033. For Idaho overall, medians are $5,528 and $11,384; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Boise?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Boise is $44,588 vs $47,237 for Idaho and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Boise colleges?
Median completer debt in Boise is $10,555 vs $10,555 for Idaho and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Boise?
Top campuses on this page include Boise State University (graduation) and Boise State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Boise?
Among 8 campuses in Boise, Idaho, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Carrington College-Boise and Boise Barber College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Undenominational (1).
Sources & related
- Idaho college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON