Career Training Path › Idaho › College of Western Idaho
College of Western Idaho
Nampa, Idaho · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 5500 East Opportunity Drive, Nampa, ID 83687 · Phone: (208) 562-3000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
College of Western Idaho is a public trade school in Nampa, Idaho, offering auto mechanic, medical assistant, and welding programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
College of Western Idaho has a 30.6% completion rate, below the state average of 71.0%, and median graduate debt of $9,720, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 22.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,570 | $48,420 | $62,660 |
| Medical assistants | $35,500 | $44,700 | $48,160 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $40,370 | $50,530 | $59,350 |
| Machinists | $38,450 | $58,810 | $71,070 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $45,960 | $59,230 | $69,370 |
| Dental assistants | $37,430 | $45,880 | $57,690 |
| Surgical technologists | $48,430 | $72,550 | $77,640 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $47,890 | $63,800 | $74,050 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Idaho (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 54 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 45 | not reported | not reported | $7,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 38 | not reported | not reported | $8,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 38 | not reported | not reported | $7,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 31 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 22 | $29,169 | $38,289 | $9,312 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 22 | $31,871 | $31,133 | $8,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | $7,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 16 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | $41,025 | $7,625 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 14 | $29,169 | $38,289 | $9,312 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 12 | $29,169 | $38,289 | $9,312 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | $7,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 12 | $36,899 | $38,829 | $7,848 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | $7,898 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 10 | $36,899 | $38,829 | $7,848 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 9 | $31,871 | $31,133 | $8,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | $31,871 | $31,133 | $8,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | $31,871 | $31,133 | $8,000 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
College of Western Idaho is a public trade and career training campus located in Nampa, Idaho. The school participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help pay for their education. It holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and others tied to its health-science offerings. Across 25 program families, the campus's top enrolling trade programs are auto mechanic schools (166 completers), medical assistant programs (86), and welding schools (69).
Federal data show a completion rate of 30.6%, which is below the state average of 71.0%. Median debt for graduates who completed a program here is $9,720. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 22.2% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students enrolled.
This campus, with 6,459 undergraduates and 454 trade completers, offers a mix of short-term certificate and longer program tracks across mechanical, medical-support, and technical trades. Program length details are not specified in the data provided, so prospective students — including career changers — should confirm scheduling and program duration directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review updated outcome figures, check the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities listing and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
College of Western Idaho offers 25 program families, with the top programs being auto mechanic schools, medical assistant programs, and welding schools. Other program families include CNC machining, diesel mechanics, dental assisting, surgical technology, and LPN programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, along with several program-specific accreditors such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 30.6%, which is below the state average of 71.0%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $9,720, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard link for updates.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (208) 562-3000 or visit https://cwi.edu/ for current tuition information.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
College of Western Idaho is a public institution, which often means lower tuition rates for in-state students compared to private for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration for specific trades.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review official outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?455114.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program schedules or formats, so fit for adult career changers cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to ask about scheduling options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not specified in the data provided; contact the school at (208) 562-3000 to ask about requirements for specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact College of Western Idaho by phone at (208) 562-3000 or visit their website at https://cwi.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not included in this listing; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?455114 to compare completion rates and debt figures across schools.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.