Head-to-head comparison
University of Idaho vs Northwest Nazarene University: which has better ROI?
Option A Moscow, ID
University of Idaho
- Net price / year
- $14,831
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,670
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Nampa, ID
Northwest Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $29,580
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,719
- Payback
- 35.2 yrs
University of Idaho has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,324 in 9.4 years versus 35.2 years at Northwest Nazarene University, on median earnings of $54,670 vs $51,719 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Idaho | Northwest Nazarene University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,831 | $29,580 |
| Total net cost | $59,324 | $118,320 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,670 | $51,719 |
| Median debt | $21,982 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 35.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $66,876 | -$51,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Idaho or Northwest Nazarene University?
University of Idaho, at $14,831 a year after aid versus $29,580 — a gap of $14,749 a year, or $58,996 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 University of Idaho or Northwest Nazarene University graduates earn more?
University of Idaho graduates report a median $54,670 ten years after entry, $2,951 more than the $51,719 at Northwest Nazarene 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, University of Idaho or Northwest Nazarene University?
University of Idaho: its completers carry a median $21,982 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Northwest Nazarene University, a difference of $1,768. 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?
71% of students finish at Northwest Nazarene University, against 57% at University of Idaho. 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.