The College of Idaho
Caldwell, Idaho · Private Nonprofit · 49.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 40/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The College of Idaho is a small private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho, enrolling 1,041 students. Its overall ROI score of 40 - Below Benchmark - is driven by a 16.2-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.773, and average six-year earnings of $31,700. The sticker tuition of $37,845 falls to an average net price of $19,481, with the estimated four-year total cost at $77,924. The earnings picture improves meaningfully over time - ten-year median earnings of $48,473 are 53% higher than the six-year figure - but the slow initial earnings trajectory means the financial breakeven point is far out. The 63% completion rate and 85% repayment rate at three years are more encouraging sub-scores: students who complete tend to manage their debt, but a significant minority (37%) does not finish. The institution's Scorecard program data is limited to four programs, all with D or C grades - suggesting the strongest-earning alumni are not well-represented in the measured major cohorts. Business Administration at C grade and four-year earnings of $60,094 is the best-documented program outcome. Biology and Health Sciences graduates show D grades with debt-to-earnings ratios above 0.8. The Pell Grant rate is 25%. For prospective students, the critical question is whether the liberal arts formation, small campus community, and specific faculty relationships justify the $77,924 four-year investment against the earnings data the Scorecard currently captures.
How The College of Idaho 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 Score40/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
The College of Idaho
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,845/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,845/yr |
| Average net price | $19,481/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,924 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,473 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,041 |
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: $37,845/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,481/year, or roughly $77,924 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 $14,026/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,095/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,500, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,700) and comes to 0.77, 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 | $14,026 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,218 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,773 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,729 |
| $110,001+ | $23,095 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (families under $30,000) pay approximately $14,026 annually at net price - roughly $56,100 over four years. This is among the most affordable access points at the College of Idaho. Against average six-year earnings of $31,700 and a 16.2-year payback period, the math remains difficult even at this reduced cost. Students at this income level must minimize borrowing aggressively, pursue every available grant, and have a concrete post-graduation career plan to make the investment defensible.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $75,000) pay between $16,218 and $17,773 annually - a moderate step up from the lowest band. At roughly $65,000 - $71,000 over four years, the total cost is somewhat higher than for low-income students. The 16.2-year payback period applies broadly across income bands. Business and psychology graduates who access Idaho's Treasure Valley economy will exit the payback period faster than health sciences or biology graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($75,001 and above) pay $19,729 - $23,095 annually - approaching $79,000 - $92,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at The College of Idaho with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,094 | C |
| Biology | $47,149 | D |
| Psychology | $54,179 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $52,709 | D |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns a C grade with four-year median earnings of $60,094 and first-year earnings of $33,611. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.692 is the most favorable in the College of Idaho's measured program set. With 64 graduates, this is the largest cohort and the most statistically reliable data point.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade with four-year median earnings of $54,179 and first-year earnings of $34,904. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.745 reflects meaningful debt relative to early wages. With 38 graduates, the cohort is statistically meaningful. Psychology at the College of Idaho, as at most small liberal arts colleges, serves students who often plan to pursue graduate study in clinical, counseling, or research psychology. Undergraduates who do not advance to graduate credentials face the structural earnings limitations of the bachelor's psychology labor market.
Biology
Biology earns a D grade with four-year median earnings of $47,149 and first-year earnings of $29,460. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.815 indicates borrowers are carrying high debt relative to early wages. With 48 graduates, this cohort is meaningful. Biology at the College of Idaho likely serves a substantial pre-medical and pre-health pipeline; the very low first-year earnings are consistent with students in post-baccalaureate programs or early residency transitions. Non-MD biology graduates should review career planning resources carefully before borrowing.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Services earns a D grade with four-year median earnings of $52,709 and first-year earnings of $25,897. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.846 signals a difficult early earnings-to-debt relationship. The graduate count is not reported, limiting statistical confidence. Health sciences graduates who enter direct-care or administrative roles in Idaho's healthcare market may see variable outcomes depending on specific credential and employer. This program warrants careful career planning before enrollment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The College of Idaho’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
| Acceptance rate | 49.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,041 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,798 |
The College of Idaho admits 49% of applicants, with SAT scores of 530 - 630 math and 540 - 650 reading, and ACT of 23 - 31. The process is holistic, with attention to academic fit for the liberal arts curriculum. Students with strong records in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences who want a residential liberal arts experience in Idaho will find the admissions process accessible. Merit scholarships are a significant factor in net price reduction and should be explored proactively.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The College of Idaho (this school) | 40 | $19,481 | $48,473 |
| Northwest Nazarene University | 41 | $29,580 | $51,719 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Quincy University | 37 | $20,359 | $50,369 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
| Boise Bible College | 20 | $15,058 | $33,140 |
Who Thrives Here
The College of Idaho fits students seeking a small, close-knit liberal arts environment in Idaho who are drawn to the institution's PEAK curriculum and faculty relationships. The admission rate is 49%. Students should enter with a concrete post-graduation plan - whether graduate school, specific industry placement, or regional employer connections - as the data indicate earnings growth is delayed. Students planning to borrow should model the debt-to-earnings ratio carefully and minimize borrowing regardless of program.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, The College of Idaho scores 40/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $19,481 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $48,473 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 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 it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
The College of Idaho: Common Questions
Is The College of Idaho worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. The College of Idaho scores 40/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $19,481 a year after aid against $48,473 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does The College of Idaho 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 $19,481 a year, or roughly $77,924 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 The College of Idaho graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,473 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,673 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 The College of Idaho?
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 16.2 years for The College of Idaho. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The College of Idaho graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,500, against average earnings of $31,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at The College of Idaho?
The six-year graduation rate is 62.5%. 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.