Idaho vs. EWU

Deciding between University of Idaho and Eastern Washington University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Idaho
Eastern Washington University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Idaho Moscow, ID
  • EWU Cheney, WA
  • Setting
  • Idaho Rural Fringe
  • EWU Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Idaho 12,286
  • EWU 10,492
  • Type
  • Idaho Public 4 Year
  • EWU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Idaho #612
  • EWU #804
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Idaho -
  • EWU -
  • Status
  • Idaho Non-profit
  • EWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Idaho
  • EWU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Idaho $9,084
  • EWU $8,586
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Idaho $28,320
  • EWU $25,959
  • Room & Board
  • Idaho $11,243
  • EWU $15,574
  • Average Net Price
  • Idaho $15,111
  • EWU $14,767
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Idaho $12,568
  • EWU $10,001
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Idaho 96%
  • EWU 86%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Idaho 13,443
  • EWU 6,581
  • Admitted
  • Idaho 10,154
  • EWU 5,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Idaho 75.5%
  • EWU 90.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Idaho 19.9%
  • EWU 22.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Idaho 1110
  • EWU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • Idaho 23
  • EWU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Idaho 3.47
  • EWU 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Idaho B+
  • EWU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Idaho Moderate
  • EWU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Idaho
  • EWU
  • ACT Range
  • Idaho 20/26
  • EWU 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • Idaho 990/1230
  • EWU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Idaho Test optional
  • EWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Idaho
  • EWU Sep 10, 2026
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Idaho 18:1
  • EWU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Idaho
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • EWU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Idaho 51%
  • EWU 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Idaho $46,900
  • EWU $45,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Idaho 61%
  • EWU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Idaho $24,279
  • EWU $20,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Idaho $251
  • EWU $215
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Idaho 50%
  • EWU 40%
  • % Women
  • Idaho 50%
  • EWU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Idaho Low
  • EWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Idaho No
  • EWU No
  • % White
  • Idaho 76%
  • EWU 67%
  • % Asian
  • Idaho 1%
  • EWU 3%
  • % Black
  • Idaho 1%
  • EWU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Idaho 10%
  • EWU 14%
  • % Native American
  • Idaho 1%
  • EWU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Idaho 0%
  • EWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Idaho 4%
  • EWU 6%
  • % International
  • Idaho 5%
  • EWU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Idaho 2%
  • EWU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Idaho 62%
  • EWU 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Idaho 26%
  • EWU 6%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Idaho Yes
  • EWU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Idaho No
  • EWU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Idaho Yes
  • EWU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Idaho No
  • EWU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Idaho Yes
  • EWU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Idaho in Moscow, ID with Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Idaho is larger than EWU based on total student enrollment (12,286 students vs. 10,492 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Idaho is located in Moscow, ID (Rural Fringe setting); Eastern Washington University is in Cheney, WA (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of Idaho is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Idaho 18:1; Eastern Washington University 18:1.

Idaho vs. EWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Idaho or EWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Washington University than Idaho ($14,767 vs. $15,111).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Idaho are 27.8% lower than at Eastern Washington University ($11,243 vs. $15,574).
  • University of Idaho is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than EWU (about $498 more per year; $9,084.00 vs. $8,586.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Idaho than at Eastern Washington University (about $2,361 more per year; $28,320.00 vs. $25,959.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Idaho than at Eastern Washington University (96% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Idaho students is 25.7% larger than aid received by Eastern Washington University students ($12,568 vs. $10,001).

Idaho vs. EWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Idaho or EWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between EWU and Idaho.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Idaho (1110) is 120 points higher than at EWU (990).
  • Incoming Idaho students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at EWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Idaho 990/1230; Eastern Washington University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Idaho 20/26; Eastern Washington University 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Idaho - Test optional; EWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: EWU Sep 10, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Idaho students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at EWU (3.29).
  • EWU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Idaho (75.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Idaho vs. 22.7% at EWU.

Idaho vs. EWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Idaho and EWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Idaho's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Eastern Washington University's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Idaho earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than EWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Washington University graduates have a $3,461 lower median loan debt than Idaho graduates ($20,818 vs. $24,279).
  • Among borrowers, EWU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Idaho graduates ($215 vs. $251).
  • More Idaho graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EWU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.