Boise State University
#4 Best Colleges in IdahoBottom 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 #4 in Best Colleges in Idaho.
Every $1 spent returns $14.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,120,377.
Quick Degree Finder
Find an Accredited Program
Accepting applicants in this field now.
Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms
What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 27% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $14.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
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, Humanities, 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 61% 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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 87% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Boise State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $27,788 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,610 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,165 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Boise State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Boise State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Boise, Idaho, Boise State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 87% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Boise State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Boise State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $27,788 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,610 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,165 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.39 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.39 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note