Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Idaho State University #351 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,142, placing Idaho State University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Idaho State University sits in the 82.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's concentration in health sciences and applied professional programs that consistently deliver strong graduate outcomes relative to similar students elsewhere. Idaho State University's health-sciences focus and broad access mission combine to produce graduate earnings that outperform what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, anchored by programs in nursing, pharmacy, and allied health that carry strong labor-market demand. Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #204 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #351 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University enrolls roughly 7,583 undergraduates. Retention stands at 72.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 39.4%, figures that reflect the institution's ability to move students through to degree completion in a regional public setting. The composite is anchored by what Idaho State University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn about $7,620 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Idaho State University in the 82.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median Health-anchored outcomes that reflect the university's concentration in health sciences and professional programs — fields that translate reliably into stable, in-demand careers across Idaho and the broader Intermountain West. Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #671 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability shape the composite alongside return. 27.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.1% are first-generation college students, underscoring the university's role as a primary pathway institution for Idaho families. Idaho State University sits in the 69.8 percentile for access and the 85.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility outcomes — how well the institution converts enrollment into upward economic movement — sit in the 70.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Idaho State University's published cost of attendance is $21,527. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-university tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,593, middle-income families pay around $11,538, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,288. Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #204 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Idaho State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through grant aid and scholarships. The affordability rank reflects both the headline net-price figures and the long-term financial outcomes graduates experience after enrollment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,039, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,334; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,142, median federal debt of $20,039 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Idaho State University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, applied sciences, and career-focused programs who want a public university experience in ID with a clear path to stable post-graduation employment. Graduates earn in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Idaho State University sits in the 82.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $7,620 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad: 27.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.1% are first-generation students, with a Pell completion rate of 39.9%. For cost-sensitive families, net price for higher-income students runs $16,288, and median student debt at graduation is $20,039 — figures that make Idaho State University a realistic option for students who need to borrow but want manageable post-graduation obligations. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking a broad liberal arts or research-intensive environment may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Idaho State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Idaho State University's published cost of attendance is $21,527. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-university tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,593, middle-income families pay around $11,538, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,288.
Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #204 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Idaho State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through grant aid and scholarships.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline net-price figures and the long-term financial outcomes graduates experience after enrollment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,039, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,334; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,142, median federal debt of $20,039 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Idaho State University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,142, placing Idaho State University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,620 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Idaho State University in the 82.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Idaho State University #671 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Idaho State University also sits in the 50.8 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning $42,500.
The earnings pattern at Idaho State University is anchored in Health, which drives a substantial share of degree output and shapes the institution's overall return profile. Nursing is the highest-aggregate-return program, graduating 117 students with median earnings of $73,953 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Nursing #297 among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General program graduates 75 students with median four-year earnings of $48,828, and Azimuth ranks the program #59 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the core of the institution's program lineup, with 69 and 53 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $46,073 and $69,630, respectively — Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #277 and Business Administration #173 among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions, with 51 graduates earning $71,038 four years after enrollment, completes the picture of a health-and-applied-sciences-oriented institution where program-level outcomes are closely tied to in-demand regional labor markets in ID.
Mechanical Engineering
14 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
19 graduates
Computer Science
20 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
7 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
117 graduates
Idaho State University's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with the university's identity as a regional comprehensive institution serving Idaho and the broader Intermountain West. Health programs account for the largest share of degree output, with Business representing 15% of graduates, Education representing 7%, and Social Sciences representing 6%.
Across 46 programs, 27 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 1,099 students annually. The program with the strongest combination of cohort scale and earnings is Nursing, which anchors Idaho State University's economic profile by pairing meaningful graduate volume with competitive four-year earnings.
Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 117 students with median earnings of $73,953 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #297 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Psychology, General are also among the largest programs by graduate count, reflecting the university's depth in health and professionally oriented fields where regional employer demand is steady.
The highest-earning programs at Idaho State University are concentrated in clinical and applied health disciplines. The Nursing program graduates 117 students with median earnings of $73,953 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #297 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions and Business Administration follow closely, each delivering strong early-career pay in fields with direct workforce entry and consistent hiring demand across Idaho and neighboring states. These programs reflect how Idaho State University's health-focused portfolio aligns with the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) in regional labor markets where clinical and allied health roles remain persistently undersupplied.
