Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
University of Idaho graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings increase from $42,602 at six years to $49,092 at eight years, reaching $54,670 at the ten-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $21,982 in debt with typical earnings.
University of Idaho graduates carry median debt of $21,982, which compares favorably to the national landscape and peer institutions. Student debt ranges from $7,000 at the 25th percentile to $28,400 at the 75th percentile, indicating substantial variation in borrowing patterns among graduates.
University of Idaho ranks at the 67.7th percentile for return on investment, reflecting above average performance in converting educational costs into career earnings. Graduates earn $129 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing the university at the 56.6th percentile for value-added earnings.
Approximately 22.2% of University of Idaho graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate wo...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering programs drive University of Idaho's strongest earnings outcomes, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering leading at $89,605 and Mechanical Engineering reaching $80,171. Business programs also perform well, with Business Administration generating $73,004 and Banking and Financial Services producing $64,881.
These high-earning programs contrast with social sciences and education fields, where Applied Sociology earns $38,613 and General Studies reaches $36,191. The variation demonstrates how program choice significantly impacts return on investment, with technical fields offering stronger immediate economic returns while liberal arts programs often serve as pathways to graduate study or mission-driven careers.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation across career paths, with the 25th to 75th percentile spread ranging from $34,494 to $80,860. This 2.3:1 ratio reflects differences between technical and liberal arts programs, with engineering graduates concentrated in the upper ranges.