Health Professions at North Idaho College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 suggests manageable borrowing—based on comparable health professions programs nationwide, graduates might expect around $35,200 in first-year earnings against roughly $15,400 in debt. That would mean loan payments consuming less than 10% of gross income under standard repayment, which is comfortably below the financial strain threshold. However, Idaho's health professions landscape tells a strikingly different story: the only program in the state with reported data shows graduates earning just $16,480, less than half the national figure. This gap is unusually wide and raises real questions about which peer programs actually reflect North Idaho College's outcomes.

The challenge is that these estimates come from national medians rather than Idaho-specific data, and when state earnings are that far below national norms, the optimistic scenario becomes harder to trust. Health professions is a broad category encompassing everything from medical assistants to respiratory therapists, with vastly different earning potential. Without knowing which specific credentials or concentrations North Idaho College emphasizes, it's difficult to judge whether graduates land closer to the national average or the Idaho floor. If this program tracks closer to other Idaho schools, that $15,440 in debt becomes much harder to justify against earnings in the teens.

The practical takeaway: before committing, identify exactly which certifications or licenses this program leads to and research typical starting salaries for those specific roles in the Coeur d'Alene area—general health professions estimates may not capture your child's actual prospects.