Head-to-head comparison
North Idaho College vs Lewis-Clark State College: 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 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 Lewis-Clark State College comes closer — median earnings $46,001 against a $62,540 total, vs $40,081 at North Idaho College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Idaho College | Lewis-Clark State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,575 | $15,635 |
| Total net cost | $21,150 | $62,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,081 | $46,001 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $18,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$186,730 | -$109,720 |
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 Lewis-Clark State College?
North Idaho College, at $10,575 a year after aid versus $15,635 — a gap of $5,060 a year, or $41,390 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 Lewis-Clark State College graduates earn more?
Lewis-Clark State College graduates report a median $46,001 ten years after entry, $5,920 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 Lewis-Clark State College?
North Idaho College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $18,500 at Lewis-Clark State College, a difference of $9,500. 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 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.