Head-to-head comparison
Brigham Young University-Idaho vs The College of Idaho: 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 Caldwell, ID
The College of Idaho
- Net price / year
- $19,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,473
- Payback
- 689.6 yrs
Brigham Young University-Idaho has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $32,884 in 6.5 years versus 689.6 years at The College of Idaho, on median earnings of $53,406 vs $48,473 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brigham Young University-Idaho | The College of Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,221 | $19,481 |
| Total net cost | $32,884 | $77,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,406 | $48,473 |
| Median debt | $13,969 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 689.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $68,036 | -$75,664 |
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 The College of Idaho?
Brigham Young University-Idaho, at $8,221 a year after aid versus $19,481 — a gap of $11,260 a year, or $45,040 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 The College of Idaho graduates earn more?
Brigham Young University-Idaho graduates report a median $53,406 ten years after entry, $4,933 more than the $48,473 at The College of Idaho. 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 The College of Idaho?
Brigham Young University-Idaho: its completers carry a median $13,969 in federal loans versus $24,500 at The College of Idaho, a difference of $10,531. 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?
63% of students finish at The College of Idaho, against 55% at Brigham Young University-Idaho. 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.