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Cost & financial aid brief

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# University of Idaho Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid

Updated October 21, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-idaho/)Cost & aid[Outcomes](/school/university-of-idaho/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-idaho/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-idaho/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/university-of-idaho/similar/)

**On this page**+

## How much does University of Idaho cost after financial aid?

At $23,738, the published cost of attendance at University of Idaho is well above its $14,831 average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships. That published budget includes $9,084 in-state tuition and fees and $11,243 for room and board; out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,320.

For aid recipients, financial aid offsets $8,907 from the published cost. The peer median net price for comparable institutions (same type and size) is $14,068, placing the university above that figure by $763.

Azimuth ranks University of Idaho #388 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid discount is sizable, though the average net price remains above the comparable-institution median.

At University of Idaho, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is $14,831. That is $763 above the median for comparable institutions (same type and size).

By income band, the averages are $11,270 for families earning under $30,000 and $18,791 for those earning over $110,000. Borrowers who finish hold a median of $21,982 in federal student loan debt, $753 above the peer median.

Affordability lands in the 73rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/)s begin at a lower level for lower-income aid recipients and move higher across the upper bands. In order from the lowest to highest family-income band, the average net prices are $11,270, $11,193, $13,374, $17,130, and $18,791.

Pell Grants go to 23.5% of undergraduates, providing financial-access context for the lowest band. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $7,521.

Average net price by family income

**$0–30K**
$11,270

**$30–48K**
$11,193

**$48–75K**
$13,374

**$75–110K**
$17,130

**$110K+**
$18,791

Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary.

Overall average annual net price: **$14,831**. After grants and scholarships, including living costs. [Source and coverage](#cost-data-notes).

Aid follows a lower-income pattern rather than applying an equal discount across family-income bands. For the average aid recipient, aid covers about 38% of the published cost.

The two lowest income bands have similar average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/)s, the middle band is higher, and the upper bands are higher again. This pattern shows that larger average discounts are concentrated in the lower income bands, while families in the highest band face the highest average net price.

These figures describe averages among aid recipients in each band, not a quote for any individual family. The published cost remains the starting point before grants and scholarships are applied.

The published cost of attendance at University of Idaho is $23,738, with in-state tuition and fees at $9,084. After grants and scholarships, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/)—what aid recipients actually pay—varies by family income.

For families earning under $30,000, the average net price is $11,270, while those in the $30,001 to $48,000 band average $11,193. The middle band, earning $48,001 to $75,000, averages $13,374, and families in the $75,001 to $110,000 range average $17,130.

For the highest income band, over $110,000, the average net price is $18,791. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $7,521.

Azimuth ranks the university #388 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 38% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, a savings of $8,907 against the sticker price.

The average net price across all aid recipients is $14,831, which is $763 above the peer median of $14,068 for comparable institutions (same type and size). Borrowers who complete a degree leave with a median of $21,982 in federal student loans, $753 above the peer median of $21,229.

That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $250 a month if repaid over ten years. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $21,162 in [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loans.

## Student loans: what does repayment look like?

Federal borrowing is common at University of Idaho, and typical debt finishes slightly above the comparable-school benchmark. Among federal-loan borrowers who completed, median federal student loan debt at completion is $21,982.

At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median is $21,229, putting Idaho $753 above that figure. For the separate parent-borrower population, median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $21,162.

University of Idaho has a mixed investment picture, pairing a wide range of earnings scenarios with federal debt above its peer median. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $60,330 four years after completion.

Azimuth places those earnings in the 52nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, are near the expected level.

Graduates earn about $759 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level. Azimuth places this measure in the 58th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The downside earnings scenario is $43,394 and the upside scenario is $83,315, with the typical scenario at the same level as the observed median. Median federal student loan debt at completion is $21,982, which is $753 above the $21,229 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size).

That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $250 a month if repaid over ten years. The scenario range and above-peer debt leave a mixed return picture.

Parent borrowing is separate from student federal borrowing: median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing for parent borrowers is $21,162. The median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $250 a month if repaid over ten years.

[Repayment figures](#combined-borrowing) are in the Financial GPS card below. [Borrowing populations and model assumptions](#cost-data-notes).

## Parent loans: what can the family afford?

[How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/)

**Median Parent PLUS debt**
$21,162

**Estimated parent payment**
$269/mo

Modeled Parent PLUS pressure by income

| Household income | Share of income above basic expenses | Risk level |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $35,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $50,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $75,000 | 15.8% | High pressure |
| $100,000 | 7.1% | Caution |
| $150,000 | 3.4% | Safe |
| $200,000 | 2.2% | Safe |

The 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS balance, as a share of household income above basic expenses ($54,640 a year: 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a household of three). No room is High pressure. [Open the parent tool for your own numbers](/financial-gps/?tool=parent&school=university-of-idaho#parent-tool). [Read the assumptions and limits](#cost-data-notes).

## Student and parent loans: the monthly payments

Financial GPS

### What does repayment look like?

**Institution median student debt**
$21,982

**Institution Parent PLUS debt**
$21,162

Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.

**Estimated student payment · monthly**
$250/mo

**Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly**
$269/mo

**Modeled student + parent payments**
$519/mo

Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.

#### Student payment as a share of available income

At median graduate earnings of $60,330, with a $23,940 annual allowance for basic expenses:

**8.2%** of income above the allowance · Good

1.  Excellent Under 8%
2.  Good 8–under 12% · selected scenario
3.  Concerning 12–20%
4.  High risk Over 20%

How this estimate works

These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $23,940, uses the published framework’s 2026 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.

[Read the framework and its limits](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Payment assumptions

Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.

[Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=university-of-idaho#student-tool)

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).

**Net price and borrowing.** The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. [College Scorecard data and documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/).

A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.

Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.