Boise State University

Boise, ID · WestQuad's selectivityAccessible

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Boise State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (87%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 29% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

87%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

16,082

Admitted

14,025

Yield

24%

of admits enroll

Applications +97% since fall 2014 · admit rate 77% → 87%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 17,674 undergrads, where 18% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

17.7K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.49

Pell Grant

18%

below the median

First generation

33%

about the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FBS · Mountain West ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.42 → 0.49 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (10% of graduates). 20 students for every faculty member, more than at 90% of colleges. 57% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,864 a year on instruction per student.

20 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 90% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $32,045 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $7.8K more than the national median. The 76% who received grants paid $21,583 on average; the other 24% paid the full sticker price of $32,341 in-state / $50,535 out-of-state.

18%

$32K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $7.8K above the national median

Full price, in-state: $32,341 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 18% of full price

Federal loans

24%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost rising · +25% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $51,658 ten years after enrolling, more than at 43% of colleges; 59% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.5 years of that salary.

59%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$51.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$20.5K

≈ $217/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 36% → 60% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 22% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 25%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 97% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 77% to 87%.

Cost
Rising
+25% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+97%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 77% → 87%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.42 → 0.49

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

88% admit · SAT 1260 · 29.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Minnesota State University-Mankato

88% admit · 11.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Colorado State University-Fort Collins

89% admit · 25.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West

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University of Iowa

84% admit · SAT 1230 · 22.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Boise State University Common Data Set 2021–22
Boise State University · Fall 2022 entrants; Fall 2021; 2021–22; Fall 2022 cycle; Class of 2021 · retrieved 2026-10-05
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
State laws on public colleges
State legislatures (statutes read and summarized by hand) · In effect since July 1, 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-04
18
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
20
Boise State University (2026)
Boise State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 142115 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything