[Vision2020] New fed scorecard makes University of Idaho a 'best buy'

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Idaho State Journal with special thanks to a friend for sharing this article with me.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/new-fed-scorecard-makes-university-of-idaho-a-best-buy/article_10247285-95c6-5c9a-8b9a-704035d67baa.html

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New fed scorecard makes University of Idaho a 'best buy'
  
When it comes to bargains for college educations in Idaho, the public university with the highest score from the U.S. Department of Education’s new College Scorecard website was the University of Idaho in Moscow. The scorecard is a federal data site providing information on costs and graduation outcomes for public institutions throughout the U.S.

The UI was higher when it comes to graduation rate and average salaries after graduation than the other four-year institutions in Idaho and was below them in annual cost.

UI President Chuck Staben was quick to embrace the federal scorecard.

“This new site is a wonderful tool for high school students and their parents to explore their educational opportunities,” said Staben. “The side-by-side comparison makes it clear that a Vandal education is an affordable investment in a great future.”

According to the College Scorecard, UI had an average annual cost of $13,051. The five-year graduation rate was 55 percent, and the average salary after graduation was $39,900.

At Idaho State University, the College Scorecard showed the annual cost at $15,104. The five-year graduation rate was 34 percent, and the average salary post-graduation was $35,400.

Boise State University had an average annual cost of $14,404 with a 33 percent graduation rate and a salary after graduation of $35,300.

Lewis-Clark State College had an annual cost of $12,152 with a 29 percent graduation rate and an average salary of $32,700 after graduation.

The state’s three two-year colleges — North Idaho College, College of Southern Idaho and College of Western Idaho — all had lower annual costs of $9,599, $5,904 and $7,193, respectively. The graduation rate at North Idaho was 27 percent; CSI, 24 percent; and CWI, 19 percent.

As far as the cost of college, ISU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Laura Woodworth-Ney said the health science mission of Idaho State boosts the cost for students in those programs.

“ISU’s total cost is higher overall because of fees charged for health science programs, even though our tuition is competitive with our peers,” Woodworth-Ney said in an email.

At ISU, 54 percent of its 9,337 undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. The typical debt for ISU graduates was $23,660 with the average monthly loan payment after receiving a degree at $263 per month.

Idaho State has 67 percent of its undergraduate students return after their first year of college, compared with 79 percent for the University of Idaho and 71 percent for BSU.

Woodworth-Ney said the matrix used by the Department of Education for the scorecard favors traditional, residential universities like the University of Idaho.

“ISU has a lot part-time, nonresidential and nontraditional students,” Woodworth-Ney said.

The student body at ISU is about 75 percent full time and 25 percent part time. Forty-seven percent of ISU students have a family income of less than $40,000 and receive some form of Pell Grant assistance based on family income.

The student body at the UI is about 93 percent full time and 7 percent part-time. Boise State’s student body of 16,557 undergraduates is 75 percent full time and 25 percent part-time. Lewis-Clark has 77 percent of its undergraduates full time and 23 percent part-time.

At the University of Idaho, 54 percent of the 8,539 undergraduate students receive some financial aid with a typical debt for graduates of $25,000. At Boise State, 49 percent of its undergraduate students receive financial aid with a typical graduation debt of $24,898. Lewis-Clark showed 59 percent of its 3,161 undergraduate students receiving some financial aid. The typical debt upon graduation is $22,231.

To access the national College Scorecard go to: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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