College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Idaho State University

Pocatello, ID 7,260 Undergrads 57.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$21,084
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,324
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,608
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,324
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$45,608
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$401k
+$5k
-$83k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$339k
-$57k
-$145k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$326k
-$71k
-$159k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-233%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-209%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-263%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-109%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$8,770
Earnings (5yr)
$18,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$16,023
Earnings (5yr)
$58,266
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$17,676
Earnings (5yr)
$43,581
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,680
Earnings (5yr)
$62,613
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1517
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$27,778
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,309
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,698
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
AssocCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,625
Earnings (5yr)
$55,803
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,560
Earnings (5yr)
$68,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$30,361
Earnings (5yr)
$59,156
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
American Sign Language
BachCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,746
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,041
Earnings (5yr)
$63,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,187
Earnings (5yr)
$65,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,995
Earnings (5yr)
$46,495
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,901
Earnings (5yr)
$49,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,198
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,661
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Engineering-Related Technologies
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (5yr)
$44,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$14,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$399k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$170
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,040
Earnings (5yr)
$43,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$24,043
Earnings (5yr)
$55,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$30,051
Earnings (5yr)
$37,349
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,843
Earnings (5yr)
$69,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$44,312
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,043
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,438
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$33,062
Earnings (5yr)
$43,038
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$29,592
Earnings (5yr)
$38,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,195
Earnings (5yr)
$46,248
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,383
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$110,724
Earnings (5yr)
$128,112
Lifetime Value Added
+$648k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,202
Earnings (5yr)
$105,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$456k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,823
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$57,360
Earnings (5yr)
$79,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k

Graduate Certificates

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,690
Lifetime Value Added
+$463k

Doctoral Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,340
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
DocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$77,136
Earnings (5yr)
$83,326
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k

Professional Degrees

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$92,250
Earnings (5yr)
$145,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$563k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.