Head-to-head comparison
Boise State University vs Northwest Nazarene University: which has better ROI?
Option A Boise, ID
Boise State University
- Net price / year
- $21,610
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,658
- Payback
- 26.2 yrs
Option B Nampa, ID
Northwest Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $29,580
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,719
- Payback
- 35.2 yrs
Boise State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,440 in 26.2 years versus 35.2 years at Northwest Nazarene University, on median earnings of $51,658 vs $51,719 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boise State University | Northwest Nazarene University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,610 | $29,580 |
| Total net cost | $86,440 | $118,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,658 | $51,719 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 26.2 yrs | 35.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$20,480 | -$51,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Boise State University or Northwest Nazarene University?
Boise State University, at $21,610 a year after aid versus $29,580 — a gap of $7,970 a year, or $31,880 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Boise State University or Northwest Nazarene University graduates earn more?
Northwest Nazarene University graduates report a median $51,719 ten years after entry, $61 more than the $51,658 at Boise State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Boise State University or Northwest Nazarene University?
Boise State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Northwest Nazarene University, a difference of $3,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Northwest Nazarene University, against 60% at Boise State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.