Boise State University Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

Let's walk through them together, in order, without rushing and without embellishments that are not supported by official data.

What kind of university is it, really?

Boise State is classified by Carnegie—the system that organizes universities in the United States according to what they do—among doctoral institutions with high research activity. That tells you something important from the start: this is not a small undergraduate-only school. It is a comprehensive university with serious research taking place within it.

It is also classified as a large, primarily nonresidential institution. That means that, according to the data used for that label, fewer than 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, or fewer than half studied full time—the data do not clarify which of those two conditions determined the label. What I can tell you clearly is this: if your child plans to commute from home, what you need to calculate is not an abstract idea of "dorm life." It is the bus, the gas, and the actual hours spent traveling.

Boise State also appears, in another Carnegie classification, among institutions that receive many transfer students. If your child is thinking about coming here after starting at another school, this is no minor detail: before enrolling, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not. The label tells you that there is a flow of transfer students; it does not tell you how many credits each person brings in or how many are lost along the way.

Geographically, it is in Boise, Idaho, within Ada County, in the Boise City metropolitan area. That does not mean the campus is right downtown. If your child will live at home, drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time your child would have class. The actual travel time is almost never what the map promises.

It is a public four-year university, and the highest level it reports offering is the doctorate. That places it, under the federal classification, among institutions that award bachelor's degrees or higher. Importantly, this is an institutional label. It does not tell you whether the exact major your child is interested in is offered there or whether that specific field has a clear path from a bachelor's degree to graduate study. That must be verified program by program.

And a note about institutional identity: Boise State is not registered as a historically Black college or university (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this census, 138 do carry at least one of those three designations; Boise State does not. That does not tell you which communities it serves today or how your child will feel on that campus. That question is answered by speaking with people who already study there and asking which organizations and cultural centers currently exist.

The size of the community your child would enter

Boise State reported 26,670 enrolled students in the official fall count. It is a large school: it falls within the government's highest band, 20,000 students or more. Compared with 519 selective public four-year schools in this same census, it is on the larger side: only between one and three out of every ten of those schools have more students.

Of that total, 23,491 are undergraduate students and 3,179 are graduate students. Above all, it is an undergraduate institution.

Here is an important nuance: that enrollment figure does not tell you how many people are in a classroom or hallway at the same time. The figure includes many part-time students. Before imagining your child's schedule, ask directly what times courses in the major your child is interested in are offered.

As for who makes up this community: 15 out of every 100 undergraduate students identified as Hispanic or Latino in the fall of 2023. That is not a majority, but it is not unusual either—and compared with 519 similar selective public schools, Boise State ranks above the midpoint of the group. Keep in mind a real limitation of that comparison: the peers are grouped by type of school, not by state, and the comparison does not account for where in the country Boise State is located. That matters, and it matters differently for every family.

There are more women than men among undergraduates: 56 out of every 100. And 15 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old, so this is not a campus where everyone is 18. Just over half of entering students, 65 out of every 100, reported living in Idaho when they applied. It is a school with a strong local presence, but not an exclusively local one.

How the academic year works and what the university does with what your child already knows

Boise State organizes its academic year into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the most common and predictable calendar, with consistent dates for everyone.

Here is something worth knowing from the start: the university stated that it accepts credit for AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls "credit for life experiences"—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses, or military or government experience. It also reports accepting credit for military training, and it enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.

All of that sounds good, and it is. But the school's declaration that these pathways exist does not mean your child's AP credits or prior experience will automatically be recognized. The data do not say what scores are required on each exam, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits apply to the specific major your child wants. Ask for a written equivalency evaluation before including those credits in your savings calculations.

As for its academic offerings, Boise State awarded 3,875 bachelor's degrees in a single recent year, distributed across 23 fields of study using the federal CIP classification. The field awarding the most degrees was health professions, with 24 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—a strong presence, but not a monopoly. No other field accounted for the bulk of the degrees: the offerings are broad and distributed. Compared with 514 similar selective public schools, Boise State ranks in the quarter that awards the most bachelor's degrees each year.

Keep in mind: 23 active fields do not mean 23 specific majors. Each field includes multiple programs, and some may have minimal activity. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, not only the general field.

As for group size, the reported ratio is 19 students for each full-time-equivalent faculty member. On the general scale used in this type of reporting, that falls within a middle band. But compared specifically with schools of the same type, it places Boise State in the highest quarter—that is, among the schools with more students per faculty member within that comparison group. Both readings are true at the same time, and neither tells you the actual size of a first-year class. That information is not included in this data point.

The university also reports structured opportunities: study abroad, undergraduate research, a complete program that can be taken exclusively at night or on weekends, developmental education with and without credit, and teacher-certification pathways. These are real components of the institutional catalog; which ones are useful to your child depends on the major and the plan.

What admission is like: what is required, what is not, and who actually stays

Boise State does not have open admission. It reviews application components before saying yes. Of the nine considerations IPEDS asks about—not counting admission tests or legacy status—it marked three as required: the high school transcript, the high school GPA, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants who are required to take it.

And here is something worth emphasizing because it surprises many families: the list of what is NOT considered is longer than the list of what is. The following are not considered: class rank, completion of a specific college-preparatory curriculum, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio, work experience, or whether a family member studied there. The report does not say whether anyone reviews them for another purpose—only that they do not count toward the admission decision.

Boise State also does not consider SAT or ACT scores in that decision, even if they are submitted. That does not mean the tests serve no purpose: they could be used for scholarships or course placement, which must be asked about separately.

The application fee is $50.

If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam is required and what would qualify your child for an exemption. This is the kind of detail families discover late, complicating their timelines.

Now, the numbers from the actual admissions funnel:

Eighty-four out of every one hundred applicants receive a yes. Compared with 519 similar selective public schools, that figure is near the middle of the group, slightly above the midpoint. It is an accessible university within that comparison group. Your child has a real reason to apply and a real reason to prepare a complete application and submit it on time.

But pay attention to the second figure, which almost no one looks at: out of every 4 admitted students, only 1 ultimately enrolls. Do not read that as a stain—the federal record does not say why each person chose something else. What I can tell you is this: what other people decided does not predict what your child will be offered. Wait for the net-price letter, which shows what the year will actually cost your family, before removing this school from the list or committing to it.

As for transfers: from a cohort of bachelor's-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017, 17 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here. Compared with 395 similar schools, that departure proportion is on the lower side—most schools in that group saw a larger proportion leave. At the same time, in the fall of 2023, Boise State received 1,577 undergraduate students who entered the university for the first time after studying at another institution: that is a large incoming group. Changing schools is not failing. Whether your child arrives as a transfer student or transfers later, ask in writing, with the course list in hand, which credits will be recognized. This data point does not say.

The cost: two very different prices depending on where students come from

At Boise State University, among 219 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $15,387. Among 193 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $19,197; among 234 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $22,767. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.

The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (219 students) and the highest-income band (234 students) is $7,380. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $19,037.

Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this data point with the same time coverage, Boise State falls within the most expensive quarter for the lowest-income families. That does not mean it should be ruled out. It means you need to request the financial-aid letter before deciding.

The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students receiving grants or scholarships, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.

Aid, grants, scholarships, and loans: keep the categories separate

Out of every 100 degree-seeking students at Boise State, 62 received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—a grant or scholarship. That is more than half, but not everyone. Compared with similar schools, this proportion falls within the quarter where grants and scholarships reach fewer students. Among those who did receive them, the annual average was $9,171.

The Pell Grant—federal aid specifically for low-income families—reached 24 out of every 100 students. That is a moderately low proportion compared with its peers.

As for loans, 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan during the 2022-23 school year. Compared with similar schools, that proportion is on the lower side—seven out of ten or more of those schools had a higher proportion of students taking on debt. Among those who did borrow, the average amount was $6,574 that year. This figure covers only one year and only federal loans in the student's name: it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit-card debt. Nor is it the cumulative debt with which someone graduates.

Here is a truth I will not soften: these percentages describe other families, not yours. The amount your child would have to borrow can be determined only from your child's own financial-aid letter. Wait for that letter—with numbers, in writing—before ruling out this school or committing to it.

The university also reports offering an installment tuition-payment plan and participating in a Promise program. It is worth asking directly about both.

Campus life, learning formats, and support

Boise State has institution-controlled housing with capacity for 2,906 students. Living there is not mandatory for all first-time, full-time students—but that does not rule out the possibility that a specific program may require it. It also offers meal plans, with the number of meals varying by plan. The existence of a room does not guarantee that a bed will be available when your child needs one: request the year's rate, the application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or your child would be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.

ROTC is available, with only one branch confirmed in writing: Army. Navy and Air Force are not marked in this report—that does not mean they are unavailable; it means you need to ask directly if your child is interested in another branch.

The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with confirmed membership in football, basketball, and cross-country/track and field. If athletics matter to the decision, the next step is to write directly to the coach for that sport and ask about a place on the team, the division, and athletic scholarships—and request the answers in writing.

It offers distance education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the fall count, 14 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load online; the remainder, 86, took at least one in-person course. The university also reports offering at least one complete program that can be completed through distance education, although the data do not confirm the specific level. Confirm this for the exact major your child is interested in.

The library operates with paid staff, spending above the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, physical and digital materials, and interlibrary lending. And the institution reports a long list of services and support programs: combined academic and career counseling, employment services, on-campus childcare, a program for students with intellectual disabilities, participation in Yellow Ribbon, a point of contact for veterans and their families, and a student veterans' organization. Their inclusion in the report confirms that they exist as programs; it does not confirm their quality or guarantee your child access. Ask specific people about those details before building a plan around them.

Do they stay? Do they graduate? The numbers that really predict the path

For me, this is the section most worth reading slowly.

From a cohort of 3,058 full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, 78 out of every 100 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled or had already graduated one year later. Compared with similar schools, that figure is slightly above the midpoint. Part-time students from the same entering class had a very different outcome: 44 out of every 100. They are separate groups with different lives—do not conflate those two figures and assume one proves something about the other.

Now, graduation. IPEDS followed 2,662 first-time, full-time students who began bachelor's-degree programs in 2017:

The difference between those two points is 21 percentage points. And this matters greatly for the family budget: four years is the time frame most families have planned and paid for in advance. A fifth year—or a sixth—is not merely extra time. It means additional tuition, additional rent, and another year of living expenses. Before signing anything, ask directly how long students usually take to complete the specific program your child wants and how its required courses are scheduled.

In the exact figures for that cohort of 2,662: 1,629 earned a degree here within the time frame, 18 completed a shorter program, 455 transferred to another school, 84 remained enrolled without finishing, and 476 were recorded as "no longer enrolled"—a category that does not explain the reason and may include people who finished after the official reporting deadline.

There is one more measure, covering eight years, for a different and broader cohort—4,539 students who entered between 2015 and 2016, including full-time and part-time students: 57 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school as of August 2023. Among those who specifically received a Pell Grant, the figure was 52 out of every 100—8 percentage points below those who did not receive Pell. Compared with similar schools, this eight-year proportion falls below the midpoint of the group.

None of these figures tells you why the others do not appear as having earned a degree. The report does not know, and I am not going to make it up either. What you can do, if your family qualifies for Pell, is ask the school about specific support: whether an adviser is assigned, whether emergency aid is available, and whether the institution's grants and scholarships are renewed each year. And ask for the answers in writing.

What this means for your plan

You now know one real and complete part of what Boise State University is: a large public university with serious research, relatively accessible admission but a marked gap between the resident and out-of-state price, a four-year graduation rate that barely reaches 40 out of every 100 and rises considerably by the sixth year, and a community where one out of every seven undergraduate students is Hispanic or Latino.

None of this tells you whether this is the right university for your child. That depends on three things this article cannot know for you: what your child wants to study and how comfortable your child is with being far from home; what your family can afford once the actual financial-aid letter arrives, with your own numbers rather than averages from other families; and how prepared you are, together, to sustain four, five, or six years of this journey without losing sight of a deadline, a form, or a question you should have asked earlier.

Your child's role is to study, explore, and decide what to pursue. Your role is to handle the money, the deadlines, and the uncomfortable questions that must be asked in writing and on time. No figure in this article does that work for you. But now, at least, you can enter that conversation knowing exactly what to ask.

Source note: the information in this article comes from official IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data from the United States Department of Education, corresponding primarily to the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, depending on the indicator. Best College Aid does not represent Boise State University or any agency of the United States government.