Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho · Public
ROI Score: 38/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Idaho State University earns an overall ROI score of 38 out of 100, placing it in Below Benchmark despite reasonable public-school costs. The school's structural challenge is completion: just 39.4% of enrollees graduate (20/100 sub-score), and the three-year repayment rate of 61.9% is also weak (20/100). Average earnings six years after enrollment are $34,900, climbing to a median $45,608 by year 10. Median debt of $20,039 produces a 0.574 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 17.8-year payback period. In-state tuition is just $8,610 - genuinely affordable - with net price of $12,193 reflecting modest room-and-board and fees. Out-of-state tuition is $27,720, which makes this primarily an in-state value proposition. The school has historical strength in health professions (nursing, allied health, dental, pharmacy) which is what attracts much of the better-prepared student population. The mediocre overall score reflects weak completion and repayment data dragging down what are otherwise reasonable cost and earnings numbers.
How Idaho State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score38/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.4% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period17.8 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Idaho State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,610/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,720/yr |
| Average net price | $12,193/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $48,772 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,608 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,039 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,583 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,610/year ($27,720/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $12,193/year, or roughly $48,772 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,593/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,288/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,039, which works out to about $212 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,900) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,593 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,011 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,538 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,483 |
| $110,001+ | $16,288 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,593 net, with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket slightly cheaper at $10,011 - a minor inversion but both well below sticker. Pell grants, federal loans, and Idaho state aid combine for a reasonable package. Over four years that is roughly $42,000 against average graduate earnings of $34,900. The math works if you complete, especially in nursing or engineering tracks.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $11,538 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $14,483. The completion-rate risk remains the dominant variable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket pays $16,288 - still well below sticker and a reasonable rate for any high-income Idaho family.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Idaho State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,953 | C+ |
| Psychology | $46,073 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,630 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $48,828 | D |
| Biology | $52,171 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $40,602 | D |
| Accounting | $65,662 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $43,444 | F |
| Teacher Education | $46,189 | C |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $71,038 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is ISU's flagship program at 163 graduates per year. First-year earnings of $66,863 climb modestly to $73,953 by year four. Graduates feed Eastern Idaho and Utah hospital systems including Portneuf Medical Center and Intermountain Healthcare. Strong NCLEX pass rates and direct hospital pipelines make this the program that justifies choosing ISU for many students.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 22 students per year with $62,829 first-year earnings rising to $88,888 by year four - the strongest four-year earnings curve at the school. Median debt of $25,250 produces a 0.402 ratio and a B ROI grade, the highest grade among reported programs. Graduates land at Idaho National Lab (a major federal employer in nearby Idaho Falls), regional software firms, and remote-tech positions for out-of-state employers.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 15 students with $66,385 first-year earnings climbing sharply to $90,053 by year four. Median debt of $31,000 produces a 0.467 ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Strong pipeline into Idaho National Lab (nuclear engineering applications), Boise's semiconductor industry, and Mountain West manufacturing. The four-year earnings figure is competitive with much more selective engineering programs nationally.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the second-highest-volume program at 74 graduates with $44,178 first-year earnings rising to $69,630 by year four. Median debt of $25,500 produces a 0.577 ratio and a C ROI grade - solid but unspectacular. Graduates take regional business positions in Eastern Idaho and Utah.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 83 students annually - a high-volume default for undecided students - with weak outcomes: $25,684 first-year earnings against median debt of $26,014 produce a 1.013 debt-to-earnings ratio (debt exceeds annual pay) and an F ROI grade. Like most undergraduate psychology programs, ROI requires graduate school. The high volume combined with poor outcomes is a structural concern for the school's overall ROI profile.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 59.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Idaho State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 7,583 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,941 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and no SAT or ACT mid-ranges are published. The lack of selectivity correlates directly with the 39.4% completion rate - the school admits many students who arrive without the academic preparation to finish a four-year degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho State University (this school) | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| University of Idaho | 59 | $14,831 | $54,670 |
| Boise State University | 45 | $21,610 | $51,658 |
| University of Central Arkansas | 38 | $16,511 | $45,938 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | 37 | $18,256 | $47,295 |
| Austin Peay State University | 36 | $9,735 | $44,301 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Idaho State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment of 7,583 with a 27.9% Pell rate signals a mid-size regional public serving a meaningful share of working-class Eastern Idaho students. Pocatello's location in the Snake River Plain provides geographic stickiness - many students attend because it is the nearest four-year option. Strong fit: in-state students targeting nursing, mechanical engineering, computer science, dental hygiene, or pharmacy (where ISU's professional programs are well-regarded).
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Idaho State University scores 38/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,193 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,608 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 17.8 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 39.4% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,039 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Idaho State University: Common Questions
Is Idaho State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Idaho State University scores 38/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,193 a year after aid against $45,608 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 17.8 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Idaho State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,193 a year, or roughly $48,772 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Idaho State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,608 ten years after enrolling, roughly $3,808 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Idaho State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 17.8 years for Idaho State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Idaho State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,039, against average earnings of $34,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Idaho State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 39.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.