Idaho student debt nears $27K

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Idaho student debt may be below the national average, but it’s still costing students a pretty penny.

Idaho Education News reports that at $26,675, Idaho ranks 35th nationally in college expense, but it compares less favorably to its neighbors in the West. Overall, the national average settles in at $28,650, with highest debt concentrated in the Northeast.

The data comes from a new study released Wednesday by The Institute for College Access and Success, a nonprofit based in Oakland, Calif.

Improving affordability and access to higher education has been a longstanding goal in Boise, with Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter establishing the 36-member Higher Education Task Force in 2017.