Head-to-head comparison
Brigham Young University-Idaho vs Idaho State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Rexburg, ID
Brigham Young University-Idaho
- Net price / year
- $8,221
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,406
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Option B Pocatello, ID
Idaho State University
- Net price / year
- $12,193
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,608
- Payback
- No payback
Brigham Young University-Idaho has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $32,884 in 6.5 years versus not at all at Idaho State University, on median earnings of $53,406 vs $45,608 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brigham Young University-Idaho | Idaho State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,221 | $12,193 |
| Total net cost | $32,884 | $48,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,406 | $45,608 |
| Median debt | $13,969 | $20,039 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $68,036 | -$103,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Brigham Young University-Idaho or Idaho State University?
Brigham Young University-Idaho, at $8,221 a year after aid versus $12,193 — a gap of $3,972 a year, or $15,888 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 Brigham Young University-Idaho or Idaho State University graduates earn more?
Brigham Young University-Idaho graduates report a median $53,406 ten years after entry, $7,798 more than the $45,608 at Idaho 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, Brigham Young University-Idaho or Idaho State University?
Brigham Young University-Idaho: its completers carry a median $13,969 in federal loans versus $20,039 at Idaho State University, a difference of $6,070. 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?
55% of students finish at Brigham Young University-Idaho, against 39% at Idaho 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.