Is North Idaho College Worth It?

North Idaho College gives you a modest but low-risk financial picture. You borrow little,median debt sits at $9,000, less than a single year's net price,and you graduate owing less than most two-year students nationally. The catch is that median earnings ten years out land near $40,000, so the payoff depends heavily on which program you pick.

Nursing is the clear winner here. The associate nursing track pays about $63,005, roughly $20,000 more than any other program on the list, and the debt to get there stays under $11,000. That combination,high pay, low borrowing,is the strongest reason to enroll. Practical nursing tells a different story: it pays $38,289 but carries $16,145 in debt, the heaviest borrowing on the list for one of the lower salaries. If you want a nursing career here, the associate RN path returns far more than the practical certificate.

The trade and support programs pay less. Precision metal working comes in around $32,391, and criminal justice and accounting sit in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s. These are steady regional jobs, but they won't lift you much above the school's overall median.

The biggest risk is completion. Only about 36 percent of students graduate, so you carry the cost and time without the credential if you're in the majority who leave. The programs that pay off require you to finish.

On price, the net cost actually climbs as family income rises,you pay around $10,000 under $30k but over $15,000 above $110k. Lower-income families get the better deal here. This school fits you if you want an affordable path into regional nursing or a specific trade and can commit to finishing. If you're undecided or aiming for high earnings without a clear program, look harder before enrolling.