University of Idaho: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Boise, Idaho · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Idaho is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Idaho admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 84%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,182 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Idaho is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Idaho?
University of Idaho 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. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Idaho weight in admissions?
University of Idaho reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Talent/ability
- • 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 University of Idaho typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
| 25th percentile | 960 |
| 50th percentile | — |
| 75th percentile | 1180 |
| % submitting SAT | 49% |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | — |
| 75th percentile | 26 |
| % submitting ACT | 5% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does University of Idaho actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,782 for in-state students and $26,976 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,610 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,182 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $19,182 |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Idaho
| Regular deadline | 8/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Idaho?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Idaho parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Idaho
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Idaho recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Idaho
What GPA do I need for University of Idaho?
University of Idaho 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 University of Idaho typically admit?
University of Idaho does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Test-optional policies have made scores less universally required, but submitting strong scores still helps when available.
How much does University of Idaho actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Idaho after grants and scholarships is $19,182 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Idaho realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Idaho is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Idaho, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.