Head-to-head comparison
North Idaho College vs College of Eastern Idaho: which has better ROI?
Option A Coeur d'Alene, ID
North Idaho College
- Net price / year
- $10,575
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,081
- 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 $40,081 at North Idaho College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Idaho College | College of Eastern Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,575 | $8,778 |
| Total net cost | $21,150 | $17,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,081 | $42,057 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$186,730 | -$143,616 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Idaho College or College of Eastern Idaho?
College of Eastern Idaho, at $8,778 a year after aid versus $10,575 — a gap of $1,797 a year, or $3,594 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 North Idaho College or College of Eastern Idaho graduates earn more?
College of Eastern Idaho graduates report a median $42,057 ten years after entry, $1,976 more than the $40,081 at North Idaho 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, North Idaho College or College of Eastern Idaho?
North Idaho College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at College of Eastern Idaho, a difference of $3,000. 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 38% at North Idaho 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.