Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Idaho State University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 34 programs with available earnings data.
#185 nationally
$90K median earnings
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Idaho State University.
Mechanical Engineering. leads engineering & technology with 90K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering.Small sample | #185 | $90,053★ | — | 14 |
| Computer Science. | #163 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| — |
| 20 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering.Small sample | — | $76,460 | — | 7 |
| Civil Engineering.Small sample | — | $58,221 | — | 5 |
Business & Economics graduates earn 73K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Management and Services.Small sample | #7 | $89,887★ | — | 19 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | #117 | $73,295 | — | 32 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | #170 | $69,630 | — | 53 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | #242 | $65,662 | — | 29 |
| Marketing. | #159 | $64,480 | — | 29 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. leads health with 74K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | #283 | $73,953★ | — | 117 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | #26 | $71,038 | — | 51 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | #52 | $65,955 | — | 20 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | #28 | $62,783 | — | 28 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | #93 | $56,720 | — | 24 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | #67 | $48,828 | — | 75 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.Small sample | #38 | $46,238 | — | 17 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services.Small sample | #83 | $36,141 | — | 12 |
Biology, General. leads sciences & mathematics with 52K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | #275 | $52,171★ | — | 47 |
| Physics.Small sample | — | $41,025 | — | 6 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.Small sample | — | $28,019 | — | 8 |
Social Work. leads social sciences & policy with 52K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work. | #113 | $51,827★ | — | 32 |
| Political Science and Government.Small sample | #284 | $50,233 | — | 10 |
| Psychology, General. | #259 | $46,073 | — | 69 |
| Anthropology.Small sample | #109 | $38,342 | — | 19 |
| Sociology. | #256 | $32,182 | — | 27 |
Communication and Media Studies. leads communications with 48K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | #208 | $47,655 | — | 38 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. leads humanities & arts with 43K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | #160 | $43,444★ | — | 49 |
| History.Small sample | #258 | $42,814 | — | 10 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | #133 | $42,232 | — | 22 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #252 | $40,602 | — | 20 |
| American Sign Language.Small sample | — | $20,140 | — | 8 |
| Fine and Studio Arts.Small sample | — | $14,318 | — | 8 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. leads education with 46K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | #124 | $46,205★ | — | 31 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | #173 | $46,189 | — | 43 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
