Boise State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Boise, Idaho. It enrolls 17,674 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes57
Value37
Affordability29
Selectivity28
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.2%, Boise State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Boise State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Boise State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,610 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,610
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,048
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,788
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,884
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,634
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,459
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,553
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,224
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,165
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,974
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,731
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,573
Over $110,000
$25,893
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,12910%percentile
$5,67025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$40,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,438
↓ $4,062
No Pell $11,750
↓ $8,750
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $7,500
Independent students $15,863
↓ $4,637
Female students $14,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $14,000
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
52% of full-time students who enrolled at Boise State University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Boise State University earn a median of $51,658 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,658
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,600, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Boise State University is home to 17,674 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
17,674
Part-Time
20%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.2%12,227
Hispanic 15.9%2,807
Other 6.6%1,163
Asian 2.6%463
Black 2.2%384
International 0.7%120
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Boise State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityBoise, Idaho
Housing
Partly residential2,906 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Boise State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
145 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Boise State University is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,317
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$146M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,765
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
815 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
216
27%
$104,998
Associate Professors
228
28%
$92,800
Assistant Professors
168
21%
$81,562
Instructors
21
3%
$50,775
Lecturers
137
17%
$54,602
No Rank
45
6%
$66,577
Pros & Cons of Boise State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Boise State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Boise State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Boise State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Boise State University.
Is Boise State University hard to get into?
Boise State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Boise State University?
Boise State University has an acceptance rate of 87.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Boise State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Boise State University is $21,610 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Boise State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,658 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,610 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Boise State University known for?
Boise State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Boise State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Boise State University are $51,658, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Boise State University accredited?
Yes. Boise State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Boise State University?
Boise State University enrolls 17,674 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Boise State University?
Boise State University graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Boise State University a public or private college?
Boise State University is a Public institution.
Where is Boise State University located?
Boise State University is located in Boise, Idaho.
What programs does Boise State University offer?
Boise State University offers 145 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Boise State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Boise State University is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Idaho
Other colleges in Idaho share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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