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Boise State University
Admission at Boise State University is close to open (87.2%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $51,658 median earnings below before the application.
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Boise State University sits in Boise proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $112,120 four years out. 18.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 17,674 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 78.8% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Boise State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Boise State University received 15,949 applications and admitted 13,391 (84%), with 3,080 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Boise State University's 87.2% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Boise State University compares
| Boise State University | Idaho median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87.2% | 83.9% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,048 | $14,301 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,658 | $46,001 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Boise State University: $51,658 median at year ten, versus $46,001 across Idaho institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,048 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $27,788. For non-residents, Boise State University's $27,788 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Boise State University is a big school: 17,674 undergraduates at last count.
60.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a Boise State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Boise State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $112,120 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,680 |
| Construction Management | $95,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,491 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $89,863 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,354 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,405 |
| Chemistry | $78,901 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $77,439 |
| Applied Mathematics | $75,336 |
| Economics | $71,817 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $70,449 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $69,257 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $66,283 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $65,089 |
| Marketing | $65,040 |
| Physics | $64,459 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $64,202 |
| International Business | $62,964 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $60,164 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $58,562 |
| Political Science and Government | $55,478 |
| Social Work | $55,188 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $53,995 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,278 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $51,708 |
| Psychology, General | $51,184 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,697 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,297 |
| Social Sciences, General | $49,683 |
| History | $49,625 |
| Biology, General | $49,570 |
| Mathematics | $48,582 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,505 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,419 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $44,684 |
| Sociology | $44,676 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $42,527 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $39,059 |
| Anthropology | $36,830 |
Median earnings for these 40 Boise State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,658 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Boise State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Boise State University?
Boise State University doesn't look at test scores; its 87.2% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Boise State University's acceptance rate?
84% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 13,391 admitted from 15,949 applicants.
How much does Boise State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,048; out-of-state students pay $27,788. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Boise State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,658 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Idaho
- Boise Bible College — 90.5% admitted
- Lewis-Clark State College — 87.7% admitted
- Brigham Young University-Idaho — 95.8% admitted
- University of Idaho — 75.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.