Boise State University
#3 Best Business Colleges in Idaho- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,658 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,610 D+
- 26% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.0 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Business Colleges in Idaho.
Every $1 spent returns $14.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,120,377.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 71%
- Patents
- 46
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 63
- Downstream influence
Why Boise State University Matters
Boise State University is a public research university in Boise, ID and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 17,674
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Communications
Why students choose Boise State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 87% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,610 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,658 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 60% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.39 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Boise State University serves 17,674 students and has an acceptance rate of 87%. This high acceptance rate means that a diverse range of students can pursue their education here, making the campus vibrant and inclusive.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data for Boise State indicates a focus on improving student outcomes. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's programs in Business, Health Professions, and Engineering suggest that graduates can find solid pathways to employment after graduation. Graduates earn an average of $51,658 ten years after starting their degree, which reflects positively on the value of the education offered.
The net price for attending Boise State is $21,610, with a median debt of $20,500. This financial profile means students can expect a manageable debt load relative to their potential earnings. Those who thrive here are often individuals looking for a supportive environment with a variety of academic programs and a strong focus on career readiness.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Boise State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Boise State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boise, Idaho, Boise State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,887
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 16,795
- Admitted
- 14,096
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Boise State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Boise State University is $27,788, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,165 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,048
- Out-of-State
- $27,788
- Avg Net Price
- $21,610
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 24%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,165
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,974
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,731
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,893
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Boise State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Boise State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Boise State University earn a median of $51,658, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,251
- 8 Years
- $50,005
- 10 Years
- $51,658
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (627)
- 29%
- 100% (627)
- 29%
- 100% (627)
- 29%
- 100% (627)
- 29%
How Boise Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Boise State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Boise State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,610/year ($86,440 total). Graduates earn $51,658 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,206,817 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,120,377 (14.0× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $86,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,206,817
- Net Return
- $1,120,377
- ROI Multiple
- 14.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,610
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Boise State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Boise State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.28%, well above the typical college. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.28%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $104,752
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Boise State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 46 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.25%
- Top 71% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 46
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 63
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,220,091
Top Programs
The fields Boise State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 22% $85,875 early-career
- Health Professions 18% $77,970 early-career
- Engineering 5% $89,170 early-career
- Communications 5% $40,548 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $31,556 early-career
- Humanities 4% $25,556 early-career
- Education 4% $42,504 early-career
- Psychology 4% $34,184 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Boise State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Boise State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boise, Idaho, Boise State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Boise State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Boise State University is $27,788, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,610. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,165 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
Is Boise State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Boise State University earn a median of $51,658, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Boise State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Boise State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.28%, well above the typical college. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Boise State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Boise State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Boise State University.
- Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH · Close peer66% grad $52,581 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS · Close peer65% grad $51,513 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT · Close peer57% grad $53,263 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Close peer61% grad $53,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · Close peer66% grad $56,887 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Kent State University at KentKent, OH · Close peer65% grad $45,388 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Boise State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Boise State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note