Head-to-head comparison
College of Southern Idaho vs College of Eastern Idaho: which has better ROI?
Option A Twin Falls, ID
College of Southern Idaho
- Net price / year
- $6,095
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,916
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Idaho Falls, ID
College of Eastern Idaho
- Net price / year
- $8,778
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,057
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of Eastern Idaho comes closer — median earnings $42,057 against a $17,556 total, vs $40,916 at College of Southern Idaho. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Southern Idaho | College of Eastern Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,095 | $8,778 |
| Total net cost | $12,190 | $17,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,916 | $42,057 |
| Median debt | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$161,070 | -$143,616 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of Southern Idaho or College of Eastern Idaho?
College of Southern Idaho, at $6,095 a year after aid versus $8,778 — a gap of $2,683 a year, or $5,366 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 College of Southern Idaho or College of Eastern Idaho graduates earn more?
College of Eastern Idaho graduates report a median $42,057 ten years after entry, $1,141 more than the $40,916 at College of Southern 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, College of Southern Idaho or College of Eastern Idaho?
College of Southern Idaho: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at College of Eastern Idaho, a difference of $4,000. 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?
39% of students finish at College of Eastern Idaho, against 33% at College of Southern 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.