Boise State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Boise State University is a public research university in Boise, Idaho, with about 17,674 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 87.21% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,658 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,048
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,610 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 87.21% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,674 79.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 60.20%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 33.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 6.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 56.9%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 27,901
- Applicants (IPEDS): 15,949
- Room & Board: $14,884 annual estimate
Boise State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Boise State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Boise State University?
Boise State University is located in Boise, ID (ZIP 83725).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Boise State University public or private?
Boise State University is a Public institution.
How much does Boise State University cost?
Published tuition: $9,048 in-state, $27,788 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $21,610.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $18,165 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,974 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,731 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,573 |
| $110,001+ | $25,893 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $36,192.
How hard is it to get into Boise State University?
Admission rate: 87.21%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Boise State University?
Total enrollment: 17,674 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 27,901 students.
Graduate enrollment: 3,215 students.
About 80% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Boise State University?
150%-time completion rate: 60.20%.
First-year retention: 78.8%.
What do graduates of Boise State University earn?
Median earnings: $45,251 six years after entry; $51,658 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,500.
18.08% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Boise State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (389 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (352 completions)
- Social Work (336 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (327 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (316 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (201 completions)
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist (191 completions)
- Psychology, General (189 completions)
- Accounting (157 completions)
- 00.0300 (150 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Boise State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 87.21%; completion rate 60.20%; median earnings $51,658 at 10 years; net price $21,610. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,048
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Boise State University was $9,048.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,610
2024 Value
In 2024 Boise State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,610.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,440 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,610 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$36,192 4-Year In-State Tuition
$111,152 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$14,884 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$800 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,732 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$98,928 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Boise State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
18.08% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
23.88% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Boise State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Boise State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,292 | $18,892 | $14,586 |
| 2014 | $6,641 | $19,493 | $14,512 |
| 2015 | $6,876 | $20,926 | $13,718 |
| 2016 | $7,080 | $21,530 | $14,205 |
| 2017 | $7,326 | $22,642 | $13,796 |
| 2018 | $7,694 | $23,776 | $15,020 |
| 2019 | $8,068 | $24,988 | $15,787 |
| 2020 | $8,068 | $24,988 | $16,153 |
| 2021 | $8,060 | $24,980 | $17,107 |
| 2022 | $8,364 | $25,701 | $18,016 |
| 2023 | $8,782 | $26,976 | $19,182 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
87.21% Acceptance Rate
15,949 Total Applicants
13,391 Students Admitted
3,080 First-Time Students Enrolled
23.00% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Boise State University reported total enrollment of about 17,674 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (69.2%), Hispanic or Latino (15.9%), and Two or More Races (5.5%). About 18.08% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
79.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Boise State University in 2024 is 17,674 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 27,901 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,215 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 69.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
41.42% 100% Completion Time
60.20% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.42% of students graduating from Boise State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 55% male / 45% female
- Social Work: 12% male / 88% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Boise State University.
Return on Investment
$20,500 Median Student Debt
$51,658 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
39.68% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
497.62% Return on Investment
4.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Boise State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 149 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 389 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 352 completions
3. Social Work: 336 completions
4. Business/Commerce, General: 327 completions
5. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 316 completions
6. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other: 201 completions
7. Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist: 191 completions
8. Psychology, General: 189 completions
9. Accounting: 157 completions
Most popular programs at Boise State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Boise State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Boise State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 56.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,887
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,864
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, ID, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, General, Social Work. Enrollment is approximately 17,674 students. Student body composition includes White (69.2%), Hispanic or Latino (15.9%), Two or More Races (5.5%). The admission rate is 87.21%. The 150%-time completion rate is 60.20%. Approximately 18.08% of students receive Pell Grants. About 33.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Boise, ID 83725
Region: Rocky Mountains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 149 distinct degree programs, Boise State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boise State University located?
Boise State University is located in Boise, ID.
What is Boise State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Boise State University is 87.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 15,949 applicants and 13,391 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Boise State University cost?
Reported tuition is $9,048 and average net price is $21,610 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,884 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Boise State University?
Boise State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 27,901 students, White (69.2%), Hispanic or Latino (15.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Boise State University?
About 33.5% of students at Boise State University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Boise State University earn?
Median earnings are $45,251 six years after entry and $51,658 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Boise State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Boise State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,500.
Is Boise State University public or private?
Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, ID.
Is Boise State University an HBCU?
No. Boise State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Boise State University a tribal college?
No. Boise State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Boise State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Boise State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 15.9%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Idaho college profile
- Idaho college costs
- Idaho colleges by ROI
- Boise State University vs Brigham Young University-Idaho vs University of Idaho
- Boise, Idaho city profile
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- Suburban college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Idaho
- Idaho college costs
- Idaho colleges by ROI
- Boise State University vs Brigham Young University-Idaho vs University of Idaho
- Boise, Idaho city profile
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Idaho
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.