Head-to-head comparison
College of Southern Idaho vs Northwest Nazarene University: 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 Nampa, ID
Northwest Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $29,580
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,719
- Payback
- 35.2 yrs
Northwest Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,320 in 35.2 years versus not at all at College of Southern Idaho, on median earnings of $51,719 vs $40,916 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Southern Idaho | Northwest Nazarene University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,095 | $29,580 |
| Total net cost | $12,190 | $118,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,916 | $51,719 |
| Median debt | $8,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | — | 35.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$161,070 | -$51,140 |
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 Northwest Nazarene University?
College of Southern Idaho, at $6,095 a year after aid versus $29,580 — a gap of $23,485 a year, or $106,130 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 Northwest Nazarene University graduates earn more?
Northwest Nazarene University graduates report a median $51,719 ten years after entry, $10,803 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 Northwest Nazarene University?
College of Southern Idaho: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Northwest Nazarene University, a difference of $15,750. 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 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.