Head-to-head comparison
Lewis-Clark State College vs The College of Idaho: which has better ROI?
Option A Lewiston, ID
Lewis-Clark State College
- Net price / year
- $15,635
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,001
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Caldwell, ID
The College of Idaho
- Net price / year
- $19,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,473
- Payback
- 689.6 yrs
The College of Idaho has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,924 in 689.6 years versus not at all at Lewis-Clark State College, on median earnings of $48,473 vs $46,001 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lewis-Clark State College | The College of Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,635 | $19,481 |
| Total net cost | $62,540 | $77,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,001 | $48,473 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $24,500 |
| Payback | — | 689.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$109,720 | -$75,664 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lewis-Clark State College or The College of Idaho?
Lewis-Clark State College, at $15,635 a year after aid versus $19,481 — a gap of $3,846 a year, or $15,384 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 Lewis-Clark State College or The College of Idaho graduates earn more?
The College of Idaho graduates report a median $48,473 ten years after entry, $2,472 more than the $46,001 at Lewis-Clark State College. 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, Lewis-Clark State College or The College of Idaho?
Lewis-Clark State College: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $24,500 at The College of Idaho, a difference of $6,000. 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?
63% of students finish at The College of Idaho, against 40% at Lewis-Clark State College. 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.