Students from low-income backgrounds at The College of Idaho achieve notably strong earnings outcomes, earning about $51,100 ten years after graduation—well above what similar students earn at comparable institutions.
This reflects the college's ability to provide intensive support and mentorship that translates into meaningful economic mobility for the students it serves.
The College of Idaho is a small private liberal arts college in Caldwell that delivers solid outcomes despite its modest size and regional profile. With just over 1,000 students, the college provides an intimate educational environment where nearly 27% of students are first-generation college attendees and about 24% receive Pell Grants. While access is more limited than at public institutions, the college supports the students it enrolls reasonably well.
Graduates earn a median of $48,473 ten years after enrollment, placing the college around the national average for long-term earnings. The institution performs particularly well for low-income students, with those from lower-income backgrounds earning about $51,100 at the 10-year mark—significantly above what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. This places The College of Idaho in the "Selective Achievers" category, indicating strong outcomes for the students who gain access.
As a small liberal arts college, The College of Idaho offers the benefits of personalized education and close faculty relationships, though without the research opportunities or program breadth of larger universities. For students who thrive in smaller environments and can manage private college pricing, it provides a pathway to solid career outcomes, especially in business, health sciences, and related professional fields.
The College of Idaho's program portfolio reflects its focus on practical, career-oriented education within a liberal arts framework. Business Administration leads with 40 graduates and generates the strongest aggregate return, combining solid enrollment with early-career earnings around $31,890. This program serves as the college's primary economic engine, preparing students for management and entrepreneurial roles throughout the Northwest region.
Health Services programs, with 28 graduates, provide stable pathways into healthcare careers with early earnings around $23,649. Psychology, graduating 21 students annually, rounds out the top programs with earnings of approximately $26,933, reflecting the college's strength in preparing students for graduate study or direct entry into human services fields. These three programs represent the core of the college's degree output and demonstrate its emphasis on professional preparation over purely academic pursuits.
The college's small scale means that program offerings are focused rather than comprehensive, but this concentration allows for strong faculty-student relationships and personalized career guidance. Students benefit from close mentorship and alumni networks that are particularly valuable in Idaho's tight-knit professional communities, where personal connections often matter more than institutional prestige.
The College of Idaho delivers solid long-term financial outcomes for its graduates, with a median earnings figure of $48,473 ten years after enrollment. This performance places the college around the national average for earnings, reflecting the institution's focus on practical, career-oriented programs rather than purely academic pursuits. While the college doesn't achieve the earnings premiums seen at larger research universities, it provides consistent outcomes that justify the investment for many students.
The strongest financial returns come from the college's business and health science programs. Business Administration graduates, representing the largest cohort with 40 students, earn around $31,890 early in their careers and generate the highest aggregate return for the institution. Health Services programs, with 28 graduates, provide stable career pathways with early earnings around $23,649, while Psychology majors earn approximately $26,933 in their early careers. These three programs form the core of the college's degree output and reflect its emphasis on professional preparation.
What sets The College of Idaho apart is its ability to support students from diverse economic backgrounds toward similar earnings outcomes. The college's small size allows for personalized career guidance and strong alumni networks within Idaho and the broader Northwest region, helping graduates transition effectively into their chosen fields despite the institution's limited national recognition.
The College of Idaho's affordability varies significantly by family income, reflecting typical private college pricing patterns. Low-income students pay about $15,367 annually after aid, which is competitive with many public universities and makes the college accessible to Pell-eligible families. Middle-income students face net prices around $17,013, while higher-income families pay approximately $25,125 per year—a substantial premium that reflects the college's private status and smaller scale.
Debt levels are moderate but meaningful for most graduates. Typical students leave with about $24,500 in federal loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $27,914. These amounts are manageable given the college's solid earnings outcomes, though they represent a significant financial commitment that requires careful planning. The college's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that most graduates successfully manage their debt obligations after graduation.
The key affordability consideration is whether families value the small college experience enough to justify private college pricing. For students who thrive in intimate academic environments and benefit from close faculty mentorship, the premium can be worthwhile. However, families focused primarily on return on investment might find better value at larger public institutions with similar or stronger earnings outcomes.
The College Of Idaho Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
