Undergraduate Cost of Attendance

Good question! Yes, we think so. But more importantly we think it’s worth it — worth your time and investment. Through our innovative curriculum you'll earn a degree that empowers you to pursue your passions while developing the breadth and depth of knowledge you'll need for lifelong success, no matter how your field changes or where your career takes you.

And to help answer the question, here are some statistics that help prove families from different income levels find it possible.

After you've been accepted to The College of Idaho, you must pay a $300 matriculation deposit before enrolling. This deposit reserves your place in the course registration and housing assignment processes. The sooner you submit the deposit, the better your chance of being assigned to your preferred courses and residence hall.

This one-time, non-refundable deposit only applies to new students. If you're not sure that CofI is right for you, you do not have to submit your deposit right away. Remember, though, you may not get your favorite classes or dorm assignment and cannot enroll until you submit the enrollment deposit.

Fees are non-refundable after the first week of class. Not every fee applies to every student and situation — charges vary based on student type, enrollment and other considerations. You can review your individual fees on your student account statement or in Self Service

Some classes require additional fees for equipment, materials or other instructional items. These course-specific fees are non-refundable. Not all fees are listed here, but any applicable charges will appear on your account statement in Self Service. 

If you choose to take more than 18 credits in the Fall or Spring terms or more than five credits in the Winter term, an overload fee of $500 per additional credit will apply.

Students enrolled in 11 or fewer credits per semester are considered part-time. Cost per credit varies for part-time students based on age, academic background and program: Part-time students under age 25 and without a bachelor's degree pay $1,688.50 per credit.

• Part-time students over age 25 or with a bachelor's degree pay $847 per credit.
• Part-time students who are any age with an undergraduate degree pay $847 per credit.
• All Summer term courses, excluding special and graduate courses, are $525 per credit.
• All part-time students pay a $35 Academic Service Fee per semester.
• All summer internships or independent study courses are $210 for up to 6 credits and $100 per credit for anything over 6 credits.

Note: The reduced rate of $847 per credit does not apply to internships, independent study, music lessons, practice teaching, or any other course where individual attention is the primary means of instruction.

The College of Idaho requires all full-time undergraduate students to carry medical health insurance. A fee for student health insurance is included in the student fees collected by the Business Office unless the student can show proof of comparable coverage through their parents’ policy, a spouse’s coverage or employment.

Students are responsible for either waiving coverage or enrolling in coverage by the end of the first week of classes attended. Students failing to take action by the stated deadline will be automatically enrolled in and billed for insurance. The cost of the health insurance plan is payable on the first semester's bill.

Approved waivers will result in student health insurance fees being removed from the student's account and refunded if applicable.

Note: Health insurance premiums for non-international students are $2,492 for the 2025-2026 plan year.

The College of Idaho ensures all payment information is available to students upon enrollment. Payment terms and options are designed to make paying for college straightforward, so students can focus on classes instead of bills.

Online Student Financial Accounts

Registered students can review financial account information online in Self Service. This includes real-time account balances, charges, payments and statements. They can also make payments online by credit card or e-check.

Note: Tuition payments are due on August 15 for Fall term and December 15 for Spring term.

Payment Terms & Conditions

Payment is due by August 15 for Fall term and December 15 for Spring term. While the Statement of Account in Self Service reflects the most accurate information available, adding or dropping classes after registration or changing room and board plans may result in additional charges or credits.

Students are responsible for obtaining the information necessary to pay tuition and fees by the due date each term. All students living in campus-owned housing must complete all financial aid documents and pay, or make arrangements to pay, their Fall term balance prior to moving into housing.

Delinquent Accounts

Students having trouble meeting their financial obligations to the College should immediately contact the Student Accounts Receivable Representative in the Business Office. Failure to make payment or arrangements will result in students being subject to the Delinquent Student Account Policy as stated in the Student Handbook.

Note: The College reserves the right to withhold transcripts and grades or suspend the option to add or drop courses for students with unpaid balances.   Payment Options

1. Pay the full-term balance by the due date.
   • Major credit cards are accepted through our secure payment partner, TouchNet. The Business Office also accepts cash or checks delivered in person or via mail.
   • For international students, we partnered with TransferMate to streamline payments in their local currency from nearly any country. International payments are integrated into our TouchNet checkout process.
2. Sign up for interest-free monthly payments through our payment plan provider, Nelnet.
   • Nelnet charges a single plan fee of $55 per semester, and students can apply online.
   • The Business Office reserves the right to discontinue or refuse the Nelnet payment plan option to students who have demonstrated poor credit history with the College.
3. Obtain additional loan funds through a Parent Plus Loan or a private student loan. Contact the Financial Aid department at finaid@collegeofidaho.edu with any questions.

Note: Checks can be mailed to:
The College of Idaho Attn:
Business Office 2112 Cleveland Blvd.
Caldwell, ID, 83605

Interest Charges

The College reserves the right to charge interest on all unpaid balances more than 30 days past due at a rate of 1% per month. Interest is added to accounts on the 10th of each month.

Note: Interest is not charged to accounts enrolled in Nelnet.

Effective April 1, 2025, a credit card convenience fee will be applied to all student account payments:

• Domestic Rate: 2.95% (minimum $3.00)
• International Rate: 4.25% (minimum $3.00)

Note: This fee is charged to cover the processing costs associated with credit card payments. It does not apply to other payment forms such as ACH, cash or checks.

Fall and Spring Terms

For 15-week full-term courses, these tuition refund policies apply:

• Students who withdraw from all courses before classes start or within the first 10 days of classes are eligible for a full refund of all tuition and course-specific fees.
• Students who withdraw before the 15th day of classes are eligible for a 50% tuition refund. Course fees are not refunded.
• Students who withdraw after the 15th day of classes are not eligible for any refund.
• Housing fees are prorated over the first 15 days of class based on the date the student checks out of CofI housing. No housing refunds are given after the 15th day of class.
• Meal plans are prorated based on the number of weeks left in the semester, with the amount of Flex Dining dollars spent subtracted from the refund total.
• The Associate Students of The College of Idaho (ASCI) student fees are non-refundable.

Winter Term

Students who withdraw from all courses within the first two days of class are eligible for a full refund of all tuition and course-specific fees. Students who withdraw after the second day of classes are not eligible for any refund.

Under the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, students who withdraw from all courses on or before the 60% point in time of the semester, calculated by calendar days, must return a portion of the Title IV funds they received.

Title IV funds include Pell Grants, SEOG, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans. Work-study funds are not included in the return calculation. Withdrawn students will receive a copy of the return calculation and an itemized list of returns to the various fund accounts.

The amounts returned to the federal programs must be applied in this order, and no return can exceed the amount the student received from that fund.

1. Federal Unsubsidized Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Loan
3. Perkins Loan
4. PLUS Loan
5. Pell Grant
6. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

If financial aid awards create a credit on a student account, a refund check will be sent to the student's campus mailbox. A credit balance refund created by a PLUS Loan will be sent to the parent unless prior arrangements have been made with the Business Office to send the refund to the student.