There are 38 colleges in Idaho - 8 public and 30 private schools. At Idaho colleges, the Cost of Attendance (COA)—including tuition, fees, books, housing, dining, and personal living costs—has climbed steadily over the past decade, increasing the financial burden on students and families relying on scholarships or student loans.
Idaho Colleges Key COA Trends (2016-2025)
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Idaho colleges:
- On-Campus: The COA has risen by 22.65%.
- Off-Campus: The COA has risen by 21.22%.
- 2024-2025 Total COA: the average total COA is $39,929 when living on campus and $40,557 when living off campus.
Idaho Colleges Tuition & Fees Changes
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type |
10-Year Increase (2016-2025) |
2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
| Public, In-State |
20.37% (from $7,326 to $8,818) |
$8,818 |
| Public, Out-of-State |
16.02% (from $20,319 to $23,575) |
$23,575 |
| Private Colleges |
35.74% (from $16,198 to $21,987) |
$21,987 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 16.02%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 34.30% over the same period.
Living and Other Costs
Living Costs (Room & Board, Other Expenses):
- At Idaho colleges, living costs increased by 39.50% for on-campus and 34.21% for off-campus.
- The average living cost for 2024-2025 is $15,356 (on-campus) and $15,984 (off-campus).
Books & Supplies:
- Books and supplies costs have remained relatively stable (-18.66%), with the average cost for 2024-2025 being $998.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 22.65% when living on campus and 21.22% when living off campus at Idaho Colleges.
In private Idaho Colleges, the COA has increase by 34.85% (on-campus) and 32.84% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $39,929 when a student lives on campus and $40,557 when living off campus at Idaho Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Idaho Colleges over the past 10 years.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends of Idaho Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$19,561 | $32,554 | $28,433 | $20,463 | $33,456 | $29,335 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$19,313
-1.27% | $33,020
1.43% | $28,734
1.06% | $20,606
0.70% | $34,313
2.56% | $30,027
2.36% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$19,976
3.43% | $34,599
4.78% | $29,321
2.04% | $20,905
1.45% | $35,528
3.54% | $30,250
0.74% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$20,122
0.73% | $35,586
2.85% | $30,461
3.89% | $21,851
4.53% | $37,315
5.03% | $32,190
6.41% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$21,070
4.71% | $37,432
5.19% | $30,541
0.26% | $22,767
4.19% | $39,129
4.86% | $32,238
0.15% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$21,364
1.40% | $37,873
1.18% | $31,096
1.82% | $22,968
0.88% | $39,477
0.89% | $32,700
1.43% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$21,960
2.79% | $38,677
2.12% | $33,105
6.46% | $23,656
3.00% | $40,373
2.27% | $34,801
6.43% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$22,060
0.46% | $39,011
0.86% | $33,268
0.49% | $23,187
-1.98% | $40,138
-0.58% | $34,395
-1.17% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$22,938
3.98% | $37,848
-2.98% | $35,970
8.12% | $23,095
-0.40% | $38,005
-5.31% | $36,127
5.04% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$25,172
9.74% | $39,929
5.50% | $38,341
6.59% | $25,800
11.71% | $40,557
6.71% | $38,969
7.87% |
|---|
Tuition & Fees Changes
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Idaho Colleges is $11,406 for Idaho residents and $26,163 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $22,913.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $14,078 for Idaho residents and $32,116 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $17,230.
The tuition & fees has increased 16.02% for undergraduate programs and 34.30% for graduate programs at Idaho Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
Tuition & Fees Changes for Idaho Colleges
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$7,326 | $20,319 | $16,198 | $8,170 | $21,987 | $11,821 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$7,346
0.27% | $21,053
3.61% | $16,767
3.51% | $8,491
3.93% | $22,937
4.32% | $11,846
0.21% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$7,592
3.35% | $22,215
5.52% | $16,937
1.01% | $8,848
4.20% | $24,320
6.03% | $11,333
-4.33% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$7,924
4.37% | $23,388
5.28% | $18,263
7.83% | $9,308
5.20% | $25,720
5.76% | $11,953
5.47% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$8,357
5.46% | $24,719
5.69% | $17,828
-2.38% | $9,816
5.46% | $27,300
6.14% | $12,690
6.17% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$8,357 | $24,866
0.59% | $18,089
1.46% | $9,816 | $27,409
0.40% | $16,286
28.34% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$8,366
0.11% | $25,083
0.87% | $19,511
7.86% | $9,146
-6.83% | $23,674
-13.63% | $15,407
-5.40% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$7,929
-5.22% | $24,880
-0.81% | $19,137
-1.92% | $9,433
3.14% | $24,802
4.76% | $15,620
1.38% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$7,580
-4.40% | $22,490
-9.61% | $20,612
7.71% | $11,182
18.54% | $28,899
16.52% | $16,529
5.82% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$8,818
16.33% | $23,575
4.82% | $21,987
6.67% | $11,490
2.75% | $29,528
2.18% | $17,045
3.12% |
|---|
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $998 for Idaho Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes for Idaho Colleges
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,227 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,161
-5.38% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,179
1.55% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,121
-4.92% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,119
-0.18% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,112
-0.63% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,095
-1.53% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,069
-2.37% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,082
1.22% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $998
-7.76% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
For Idaho Colleges, the living have increased 27.18% when a student lives on campus facilities and 18.89% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
Living Costs Changes for Idaho Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,008 | $11,611 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $10,806
1.77% | $11,450
6.54% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $11,205
5.74% | $11,797
1.21% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $11,077
3.14% | $12,129
7.36% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $11,594
6.14% | $12,833
3.02% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $11,895
2.93% | $13,511
-2.68% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $12,499
4.83% | $13,800
9.69% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $13,062
4.20% | $14,230
-0.72% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $14,276
8.69% | $15,446
-1.90% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $15,356
2.36% | $16,427
8.98% |
|---|