Head-to-head comparison
North Idaho College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg: 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 Rexburg, ID
Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg
- Net price / year
- $21,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,774
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Idaho College comes closer — median earnings $40,081 against a $21,150 total, vs $26,774 at Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Idaho College | Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,575 | $21,759 |
| Total net cost | $21,150 | $87,036 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,081 | $26,774 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$186,730 | -$518,756 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg?
North Idaho College, at $10,575 a year after aid versus $21,759 — a gap of $11,184 a year, or $65,886 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg graduates earn more?
North Idaho College graduates report a median $40,081 ten years after entry, $13,307 more than the $26,774 at Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg?
North Idaho College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg, a difference of $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?
85% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg, 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.