Health Professions at College of Southern Idaho

The $16,480 first-year earnings from College of Southern Idaho's Health Professions associate program immediately raises a red flag—it's less than half the national median of $35,232 for similar programs. However, context matters: with only three schools offering this program in Idaho, this actually represents the state median. The real question is whether Idaho's health professions market simply pays less, or if these graduates are landing in entry-level positions that don't yet reflect their full earning potential. The relatively low debt of $10,209 provides some cushion, but a graduate making $16,480 annually would still need roughly 7-8 months of gross income to cover their loans.

What's particularly concerning is that this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for earnings—meaning 95% of similar programs across the country produce better-paid graduates. Even the debt, while lower than the national median, sits in the 88th percentile, suggesting graduates are borrowing less because they need to, not because the program is efficiently priced. For parents, this means asking hard questions: Are graduates working part-time initially? Do earnings jump significantly in years 2-4? What specific credentials does this program provide?

Without evidence of substantial earnings growth after that first year, this represents a challenging financial proposition. The modest debt load doesn't offset wages that fall well below even basic living expenses in most markets.