The College of Idaho

Caldwell, ID 1,041 Undergrads 59.5% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$50,542

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$19,481

After Aid

Median Earnings

$52,628

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,481

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$52,628

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$48,473

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate59.5%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age20.4

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients24.6%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time99.0%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS72.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

49.1%

SAT Avg

1,180

SAT Reading

25th: 54058975th: 650

SAT Math

25th: 53057475th: 630

ACT Composite

25th: 232675th: 31

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

+$475k

+$9k

-$9k

Median Cost$19k/yr

+$405k

-$61k

-$79k

Full Cost$51k/yr

+$294k

-$173k

-$191k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

Never

-∞

Median Cost$19k/yr

Never

-113%

Full Cost$51k/yr

Never

-105%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-99%

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-88%

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

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Applied Mathematics

BachCIP: 2703

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $91,532

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$21,500

Earnings (4yr)

$47,149

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$125k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$60,094

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

-$18k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering, Other

BachCIP: 1499

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $93,989

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

BachCIP: 5100

Median Debt

$20,227

Earnings (4yr)

$52,709

Natl Median: $61,296

Lifetime Value Added

-$78k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$26,933

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$290k

International Relations and National Security Studies

BachCIP: 4509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,596

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics and Computer Science

BachCIP: 3008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $118,943

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$25,194

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

-$306k

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

BachCIP: 5120

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $116,539

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

BachCIP: 2609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,172

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$26,000

Earnings (4yr)

$54,179

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$66k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

BachCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,471

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Sciences, Other

BachCIP: 4599

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$24,035

Natl Median: $56,812

Lifetime Value Added

-$317k

Sociology and Anthropology

BachCIP: 4513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,959

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Curriculum and Instruction

MastCIP: 1303

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,399

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.