
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2022
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2019-20 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2022.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,799 and the average private school would be $18,478. You can also get information on specific Idaho schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work

Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at University of Idaho (2019-20) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $8,304 |
Room and Board | $9,080 |
Books | $1,130 |
Other Expenses | $3,306 |
Total | $21,820 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2019-20 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2022. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
---|---|---|
Family Income | ID Public $21,720 | ID Private $33,747 |
$0 - $30k | $11,847 | $13,478 |
$30,001 – $48k | $12,535 | $13,159 |
$48,001 – $75k | $14,699 | $15,426 |
$75,001 – $110k | $17,799 | $18,478 |
$110,001+ | $18,789 | $20,239 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Idaho public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $1,000-$2,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Idaho. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public ID Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Boise State University
Boise Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,068 $8,068 Room and Board $11,246 $12,327 Books $1,200 $1,240 Other Expenses $3,786 $3,895 Total $24,300 $25,530 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,561 $13,197 $30,001 - $48k $13,582 $14,269 $48,001 - $75k $16,204 $17,024 $75,001 - $110k $18,867 $19,822 $110,001+ $20,304 $21,332 -
Idaho State University
Pocatello Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $7,872 $7,872 Room and Board $7,454 $7,214 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $5,921 $5,930 Total $22,247 $22,016 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,185 $15,027 $30,001 - $48k $16,214 $16,046 $48,001 - $75k $18,464 $18,272 $75,001 - $110k $20,408 $20,196 $110,001+ $20,652 $20,438
-
University of Idaho
Moscow Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,304 $8,304 Room and Board $9,080 $9,080 Books $1,130 $1,130 Other Expenses $3,306 $3,306 Total $21,820 $21,820 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,816 $10,816 $30,001 - $48k $11,148 $11,148 $48,001 - $75k $13,998 $13,998 $75,001 - $110k $17,652 $17,652 $110,001+ $18,861 $18,861 -
Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $6,982 $6,982 Room and Board $7,680 $7,790 Books $1,650 $1,650 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,280 Total $18,512 $18,702 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,826 $8,917 $30,001 - $48k $9,194 $9,288 $48,001 - $75k $10,130 $10,234 $75,001 - $110k $14,267 $14,413 $110,001+ $15,338 $15,495
Private ID Schools Cost Breakdown
-
The College of Idaho
Caldwell Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $31,755 $32,855 Room and Board $10,649 $10,650 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,200 Total $45,804 $46,905 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,109 $19,568 $30,001 - $48k $17,486 $17,906 $48,001 - $75k $19,767 $20,242 $75,001 - $110k $22,377 $22,915 $110,001+ $24,434 $25,021
-
Northwest Nazarene University
Nampa Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $31,050 $32,780 Room and Board $7,990 $8,800 Books $1,290 $1,280 Other Expenses $2,660 $2,680 Total $42,990 $45,540 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,253 $20,395 $30,001 - $48k $18,633 $19,738 $48,001 - $75k $21,088 $22,339 $75,001 - $110k $23,214 $24,591 $110,001+ $24,569 $26,026 -
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,208 $4,300 Room and Board $4,368 $4,368 Books $400 $400 Other Expenses $3,472 $3,644 Total $12,448 $12,712 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $2,073 $2,117 $30,001 - $48k $3,357 $3,428 $48,001 - $75k $5,422 $5,537 $75,001 - $110k $9,843 $10,052 $110,001+ $11,713 $11,961
View Other States
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