College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Idaho

Moscow, ID 7,747 Undergrads 61.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$23,738
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,831
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,330
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,831
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,330
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,670
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate61.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
75.5%
SAT Avg
1,116
SAT Reading
25th: 50056075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 49054575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 26

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$538k
+$71k
+$54k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$485k
+$18k
+$596
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$31k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
64
1%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-37%
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 Return32%

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-40%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,511
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,887
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
$16,837
Earnings (4yr)
$80,690
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,263
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,935
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,510
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,823
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$24,900
Earnings (4yr)
$62,557
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,645
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,998
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,147
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$21,181
Earnings (4yr)
$81,967
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,254
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,558
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,508
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$86,310
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,530
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,407
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,372
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,930
Earnings (4yr)
$94,484
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,409
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,755
Earnings (4yr)
$71,929
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
$25,239
Earnings (4yr)
$45,624
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,857
Natl Median: $47,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,241
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$116
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,392
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,021
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$26,958
Earnings (4yr)
$49,188
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,628
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,758
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$52,438
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,622
Earnings (4yr)
$42,526
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
$23,785
Earnings (4yr)
$48,662
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,288
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,209
Earnings (4yr)
$47,654
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,146
Earnings (4yr)
$63,639
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,481
Earnings (4yr)
$59,776
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$86,415
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,227
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$62,791
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,440
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,392
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$21,571
Earnings (4yr)
$50,593
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,495
Earnings (4yr)
$42,825
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$24,634
Earnings (4yr)
$56,032
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
$22,468
Earnings (4yr)
$49,929
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$26,774
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,835
Earnings (4yr)
$47,825
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,037
Earnings (4yr)
$51,873
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,100
Earnings (4yr)
$49,651
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,237
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$27,730
Earnings (4yr)
$54,732
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,171
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,762
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$70,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,798
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,941
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,624
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,252
Earnings (4yr)
$65,519
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,605
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$30,147
Earnings (4yr)
$80,185
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,424
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$389k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$21,424
Earnings (4yr)
$56,153
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,396
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Nuclear Engineering
MastCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$470k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,839
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,087
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,246
Natl Median: $101,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
DocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$100,091
Earnings (4yr)
$81,744
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k

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. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. 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.