Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Idaho Falls, Idaho
College of Eastern Idaho — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$13,392Annual Cost
$42,057Grad Salary
26.8%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Avg Net Price
$8,728
Need-Based Aid
26.8% receive Pell
College of Eastern Idaho, founded in 1969, provides programs in nuclear operations technology, healthcare, and computer science. The campus includes a STEM center.
CEI is unranked but essential to eastern Idaho's workforce, particularly for the Idaho National Laboratory and regional healthcare systems.
College of Eastern Idaho Acceptance Rate
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
College of Eastern Idaho Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
College of Eastern Idaho follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
CEI reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at CEI
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on College of Eastern Idaho's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if CEI is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into CEI Without SAT or ACT?
CEI's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for CEI
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
CEI provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Understand you're applying to Idaho's newest community college, born from a technical college
CEI only became a comprehensive community college in 2017, when Bonneville County voters approved a taxing district to convert the former Eastern Idaho Technical College - meaning its associate-degree transfer function (AA/AS degrees) is genuinely newer than its long-standing technical training programs. Ask specifically how long your intended AA/AS transfer pathway has been established versus a legacy technical certificate, since the two have very different institutional track records here.
Target the Health Physics Technologies program if you want a high-paying, under-the-radar credential
CEI's Health Physics Technologies program - closely tied to the region's nuclear industry presence (Idaho National Laboratory) - reports new graduate salaries between $69,451 and $81,000 and a 91.16% positive job placement rate over five years, despite being a lesser-known competitive-entry program. If you're weighing nursing against other health-adjacent fields, treat Health Physics as a serious, comparably lucrative option - apply by April 1 for fall entry, and note there's no waitlist, so you must reapply every year if not accepted.
Check whether you live inside CEI's actual taxing district before assuming standard tuition
CEI's community college district covers only Bonneville County (Bingham County voters explicitly rejected joining in November 2017), even though CEI serves a broader catchment area for enrollment purposes. If you live outside Bonneville County, confirm your specific tuition rate with the admissions office before enrolling, since district residency (not just being "local" to Idaho Falls) affects your cost.
Know that "competitive" at CEI includes Welding and Cyber Security, not just health programs
CEI explicitly lists Welding and Cyber Security alongside Health Physics, Registered Nursing, and Surgical Technology as competitive-entry programs requiring committee selection - a broader and less obvious set of gated programs than most community colleges apply this model to. If you're interested in either of these two technical fields, don't assume open admission applies; request that program's specific selection criteria from an admissions counselor before applying.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss detail is that CEI's Health Physics Technologies program has no waitlist - an applicant who isn't accepted must reapply from scratch the following year rather than being carried over, so a student assuming "close but not quite" this cycle means an automatic look next cycle will be surprised to find they need to submit an entirely new application.
CEI Profile
Full Name
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI)
City
Idaho Falls
State
Idaho
ZIP Code
83404-5788
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a CEI Degree Worth It?
Whether CEI is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $53,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.44%.
How much does a degree from CEI Cost?
The sticker price is $13,392/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $8,728.
26.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 18.4% take federal loans at CEI. File your FAFSA early and list CEI as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a CEI Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $42,057. That's about 4% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at CEI
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About CEI Admissions
Median earnings for College of Eastern Idaho graduates sit around $42,057 a year.
At about $13,392 a year, College of Eastern Idaho is on the more affordable end.
About 26.8% receive a Pell Grant at College of Eastern Idaho. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
College of Eastern Idaho follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.