2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Lewis-Clark State College

Open-data reference.

We found 6 schools structurally similar to Lewis-Clark State College that cost less. 6 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, Idaho · Public

$15,635
Net Price
$46,001
Median Earnings (10yr)
87.7%
Acceptance Rate
42.6%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Lewis-Clark State College

Lewis-Clark State College posts an average net price of $15,635 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Lewis-Clark State College across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 6 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,820, achieved by University of Florida-Online at $4,815. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 6 of the 6 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Lewis-Clark State College’s $46,001, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $72,743.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

6
Alternatives Found
$10,820
Max Savings
6
Better Value Options
61%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 5 1. University of Pittsburgh-Bra $66k 2. SUNY Polytechnic Institute $64k 3. United States Merchant Marin $91k 4. University of Connecticut-Av $74k 5. University of Florida-Online $72k Compared to Lewis-Clark State College: $46k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA · Public Better Value
$15,350 -$285 $66,125 45.6% 61%
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY · Public Better Value
$14,164 -$1,471 $64,355 57.2% 42%
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · Public Better Value
$6,174 -$9,461 $90,610 81.5% 40%
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public Better Value
$13,807 -$1,828 $73,997 59.1% 40%
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public Better Value
$4,815 -$10,820 $71,588 81.2% 40%
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY · Public Better Value
$10,867 -$4,768 $69,781 54.9% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Lewis-Clark State College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Lewis-Clark State College?
We found 6 schools similar to Lewis-Clark State College that cost less. The closest match is University of Pittsburgh-Bradford with 61% similarity and a net price of $15,350.
What is the ROI of attending Lewis-Clark State College?
Lewis-Clark State College has an average net price of $15,635. Graduates earn a median of $46,001 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Lewis-Clark State College for less money?
Yes — 6 of 6 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. University of Pittsburgh-Bradford costs $15,350 (saving $285) with median earnings of $66,125.
What is the cheapest alternative to Lewis-Clark State College?
The most affordable similar school is University of Florida-Online at $4,815, saving $10,820 compared to Lewis-Clark State College. It has a 40% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 6 alternatives have an average median earnings of $72,743 compared to Lewis-Clark State College's $46,001. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary — check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.