Lewiston, Idaho Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Lewiston, Idaho: median public in-state tuition $7,876 (+38.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $52,487 (-11.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,666 (-13.6% vs U.S.) 2,477 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Lewiston serve students across Idaho with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,477 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $7,876. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lewiston, Idaho and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lewiston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, Idaho | $7,876 | $10,720 | $11,666 | 39.0% | 2,477 |
| Idaho (state median) | $5,865 | $10,282 | $8,537 | 50.0% | 99,609 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,468,409 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lewiston, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, Idaho | $52,487 | 90.5% | 61.1% | 8.0% | — | 68.1% | 0.32 |
| Idaho (state median) | $55,055 | 91.1% | 75.6% | 8.7% | — | 67.0% | 0.36 |
| United States | $59,402 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, Idaho | $7,876 | $10,720 | $11,666 | 39.0% | 2,477 | $52,487 | 90.5% |
| Rexburg | $4,944 | $11,720 | $10,918 | 52.2% | 44,734 | N/A | N/A |
| Boise | $11,430 | $18,143 | $6,500 | 60.5% | 19,477 | $50,944 | 89.9% |
| Moscow | $13,700 | $15,321 | $19,250 | 56.3% | 8,052 | $58,095 | 92.7% |
| Nampa | $22,922 | $22,598 | $7,666 | 43.2% | 7,711 | $60,370 | 92.9% |
| Twin Falls | $3,528 | $14,334 | $8,389 | 31.0% | 3,898 | N/A | N/A |
| Coeur d'Alene | $3,528 | $5,914 | $8,024 | N/A | 2,619 | N/A | N/A |
| Idaho Falls | $11,568 | $14,526 | $11,840 | 43.4% | 1,817 | $42,739 | 80.3% |
| Meridian | N/A | $22,873 | N/A | N/A | 64 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,468,409 | $59,402 | 93.0% |
Top college in Lewiston, 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, 39.0%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, 90.5%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Most selective college in Lewiston, 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, 87.7%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $85,898, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $83,303, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $47,141, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $49,877, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $52,487, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, $181,036, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Most affordable college in Lewiston, 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, $13,632, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
Top college in Lewiston, 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, 61.1%, Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College
In-state tuition: Lewiston, Idaho vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lewiston, Idaho median in-state tuition is $7,876, +38.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lewiston, Idaho vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lewiston, Idaho is $11,666 (-13.6% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $9,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lewiston, Idaho vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lewiston, Idaho center around $52,487 (-11.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lewiston, Idaho vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.5% at the median Lewiston, Idaho campus (-2.5 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
Lewiston, Idaho median public in-state tuition is $7,876, about +38.2% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +55.0%.
Median graduate debt is $11,666 (-13.6% below the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 Lewiston, Idaho are $52,487, about -11.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,402).
The median campus reports 90.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-2.5 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 61.1% 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 8.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Lewis-Clark State College (90.5%)—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 Lewiston, Idaho is 39.0% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lewiston?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Lewiston, Idaho with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lewiston?
Median in-state tuition in Lewiston is $7,876 and median net price is $10,720. For Idaho overall, medians are $5,865 and $10,282; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Lewiston?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lewiston is $52,487 vs $55,055 for Idaho and $59,402 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lewiston colleges?
Median completer debt in Lewiston is $11,666 vs $8,537 for Idaho and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lewiston?
Top campuses on this page include Lewis-Clark State College (graduation) and Lewis-Clark State College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lewiston?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Lewiston, Idaho, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Idaho college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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