University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho · Public · 75.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Idaho scores 59 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - Idaho's land-grant flagship public university in Moscow, ID with 7,747 enrolled undergraduates. The score is held down by a 57.3% completion rate - fewer than 3 in 5 students who enroll graduate - despite otherwise reasonable numbers: a 10.1-year payback period, a 0.619 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a 73.0% repayment rate. In-state tuition is $9,084 with a net price of $14,831. The engineering cluster is genuinely strong: Electrical Engineering (22 grads, $80,700 year-one, grade B+), Computer Science (36 grads, $70,276 year-one, grade B), Civil Engineering (32 grads, $68,885 year-one, grade B+), and Mechanical Engineering (56 grads, $65,409 year-one, grade B) all earn B or B+ grades. Agricultural Business (23 grads, $48,338 year-one, grade B) and Forestry (36 grads, $47,399 year-one, grade B) are distinctive programs tied to Idaho's industry. Drama (13 grads, $19,880 year-one), Fine Arts (12 grads, $22,617 year-one), and Rhetoric (19 grads, $25,574 year-one) all carry F grades.
University of Idaho
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,084/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,320/yr |
| Average net price | $14,831/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,324 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,670 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,982 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,747 |
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: $9,084/year ($28,320/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 $14,831/year, or roughly $59,324 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 $11,270/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,791/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,982, which works out to about $233 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,500) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $11,270 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,193 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,374 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,130 |
| $110,001+ | $18,791 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,270 per year at Idaho, with the 30001-48000 bracket at $11,193 - essentially the same. The 57.3% completion rate is the primary risk. Students who complete engineering or CS at $11,000 per year are accessing a strong cost-to-outcome ratio. Students who enter without a clear professional pathway face the same completion risk at a lower but still meaningful cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,374 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,130. The gradual progression across income brackets makes Idaho's cost structure relatively predictable. At $13,000-$17,000 per year, the engineering and business programs are clearly worth the investment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $18,791 per year at Idaho, totaling roughly $75,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Idaho with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $42,825 | D |
| Teacher Education | $50,237 | C |
| Marketing | $59,776 | C+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,415 | B |
| Animal Sciences | $40,935 | C |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,032 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $81,967 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $71,929 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,654 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $54,732 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 36 graduates with $70,276 year-one and $103,530 at year four, grade B on $25,500 median debt. The year-four trajectory reaches $103,530. At a $14,831 net price, CS graduates recover their $25,500 median debt in approximately 3 years. Students who can complete the program will find strong labor market demand in Boise, Seattle, and beyond.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 40 graduates with $59,334 year-one and $81,967 at year four, grade B on $23,000 median debt. At a $14,831 net price, this is a sound financial proposition. Year-one earnings of $59,334 are above average for a public flagship business program in a smaller market, reflecting Idaho's strong agricultural and energy economy. The year-four figure of $81,967 indicates solid career progression.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade: 133 graduates, $28,289 year-one, $42,825 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.901 on $25,500 median debt. At $28,289 year-one in Moscow, ID - a small college town with limited employer density - psychology graduates face real constraints. The D grade reflects that the debt-to-earnings ratio is near 1.0 and that early earnings barely exceed the debt burden. Psychology at Idaho is a graduate-school pathway degree; the bachelor's alone does not produce competitive earnings in Idaho's labor market.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University 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 | 75.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 7,747 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,288 |
Idaho's 75.5% admission rate is accessible. Students should be aware of the 57.3% completion rate and ask specifically about academic support, especially in STEM programs where attrition between years one and three can be high.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Idaho (this school) | 59 | $14,831 | $54,670 |
| Central Connecticut State University | 63 | $16,857 | $58,562 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Boise State University | 45 | $21,610 | $51,658 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
Who Thrives Here
Idaho admits 75.5% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 490-600 Math and 500-630 Reading; ACT composite 20-26. With 7,747 enrolled undergraduates and a 23.5% Pell grant rate, Idaho serves a moderately middle-income student body that skews toward in-state students from rural and agricultural backgrounds. The university has distinctive programs in forestry, natural resources, and agriculture that reflect Idaho's economic profile. The 57.3% completion rate is the institution's most significant structural weakness. Engineering and computer science graduates have strong outcomes; the large number of students in social science, humanities, and arts programs suppresses the institutional average.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Idaho is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,831 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,670 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
Median debt of $21,982 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, 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.
University of Idaho: Common Questions
Is University of Idaho worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Idaho scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,831 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,670 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University 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 $14,831 a year, or roughly $59,324 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 University of Idaho graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,670 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,870 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 University 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 10.1 years for University of Idaho. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Idaho graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,982, against average earnings of $35,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. 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 University of Idaho?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.3%. 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.