Head-to-head comparison
Idaho State University vs Lewis-Clark State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pocatello, ID
Idaho State University
- Net price / year
- $12,193
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,608
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Lewiston, ID
Lewis-Clark State College
- Net price / year
- $15,635
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,001
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Idaho State University comes closer — median earnings $45,608 against a $48,772 total, vs $46,001 at Lewis-Clark State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Idaho State University | Lewis-Clark State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,193 | $15,635 |
| Total net cost | $48,772 | $62,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,608 | $46,001 |
| Median debt | $20,039 | $18,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,812 | -$109,720 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Idaho State University or Lewis-Clark State College?
Idaho State University, at $12,193 a year after aid versus $15,635 — a gap of $3,442 a year, or $13,768 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 Idaho State University or Lewis-Clark State College graduates earn more?
Lewis-Clark State College graduates report a median $46,001 ten years after entry, $393 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, Idaho State University or Lewis-Clark State College?
Lewis-Clark State College: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $20,039 at Idaho State University, a difference of $1,539. 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?
40% of students finish at Lewis-Clark State College, 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.