Boise State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Boise State University · Boise, Idaho · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 17,582
- Applicants
- 14,749
- Admitted84%
- 3,881
- Enrolled
- 26%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access84% admittedRanked #299 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #119 (tie), Business Programs #176 (tie), Computer Science #155 (tie), Nursing #94 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Boise State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-17.
Is Boise State a reach, target or safety for your student?
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Boise State is a public university in Boise, Idaho that admits about 84% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $21,610 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Business/Commerce, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 60% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. For the most recent reporting cycle, Boise State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 84%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,610 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Boise State?
Boise State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Boise State with the other schools on your list
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What does Boise State weight in admissions?
Boise State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Considered
4- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Talent/ability
Not Considered
13- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Boise State typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Boise State does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Test scores are not required and not used for residents or nonresidents; admission is based on unweighted GPA (3.0+ automatic).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Boise State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Boise State actually cost?
Published tuition is $9,048 for in-state students and $27,788 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,884 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $21,610 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $21,610 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 59% |
| Average need-based grant | $9,613 |
| Average merit award, no financial need371 first-year students received one | $2,473 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 47% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $27,019 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Boise State
| Regular deadline | 8/1 |
| Notification date | 8/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Boise State?
These predict outcomes at Boise State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Boise State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Boise State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Business/Commerce, General. Across all programs, Boise State confers roughly 1,904 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $82,246 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 509 | $82,246 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 291 | $76,056 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 209 | $59,854 |
| Psychology, General | 193 | $45,664 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 183 | $54,946 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 181 | $67,814 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 180 | $59,941 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 158 | $53,063 |
Is Boise State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Boise State disclosed 38 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 8 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Idaho parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
- Washington State University87% acceptance · Washington
- Salisbury University87% acceptance · Maryland
- University of Hawaii at Manoa87% acceptance · Hawaii
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln87% acceptance · Nebraska
- Transylvania University87% acceptance · Kentucky
- University of New Hampshire-Main Campus88% acceptance · New Hampshire
- University of Arizona86% acceptance · Arizona
Next steps for Boise State
Common questions parents ask about Boise State
What GPA do I need for Boise State?
Boise State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Boise State typically admit?
Boise State is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Boise State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Boise State after grants and scholarships is $21,610 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $9,048 and $27,788 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Boise State realistic for my child?
Boise State admits 84% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $21,610 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Boise State?
Boise State accepts about 84% of applicants out of roughly 17,582 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Boise State test-optional?
Boise State is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Boise State?
About 60% of students at Boise State graduate within six years, and 43% finish in four years. 79% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Boise State?
Boise State's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 2%, compared with its overall rate of 84%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.
What does Boise State look for in applicants?
Boise State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Boise State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho.
What are the most popular majors at Boise State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Boise State by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Business/Commerce, General. The school awards about 1,904 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Boise State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Boise State reported 38 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Boise State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers