10-yr median earnings
$51,658
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Boise, Idaho
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public institution in Boise, Idaho. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $21,610
- Avg net price / yr
- $51,658
- 10-yr median earnings
- 61.0%
- 150%-time completion
- 87.2%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Boise State University pairs above-median former-student earnings with open admission.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 26%
- former-student earnings, US
- 87.2%
- acceptance rate
- 61.0%
- 150%-time completion
- +14%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Midsize
Carnegie: R2
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Boise State University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C-
College Value Score
53/100
Boise State University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings B
$51,658
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$21,610
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate C
61.0%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment C+
65.9%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention C
78.8%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$21,610
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
61.0%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 61.0%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Boise State University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Boise State University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Boise State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$51,658 Top 26% higher than 74% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Boise State University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,658 | #1350 of 5103 | 74th |
| Average net price | $21,610 | #3374 of 5020 | 33rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 61.0% | #2131 of 4858 | 56th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,674 | #167 of 5462 | 97th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
17,674
Undergraduate enrollment
87.2%
Acceptance rate
-
SAT average
61.0%
150%-time completion
$51,658
10-yr median earnings
78.8%
First-year retention
How Boise State University ranks in Idaho
State rank among 29 reporting Idaho colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Boise State University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,658 | #4 of 29 | 86th |
| Average net price | $21,610 | #20 of 30 | 33rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 61.0% | #17 of 29 | 41st |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,674 | #2 of 33 | 94th |
Highest former-student earnings in Idaho
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Idaho | $54,670 | $14,831 |
| 2 | Brigham Young University-Idaho | $53,406 | $8,221 |
| 3 | Northwest Nazarene University | $51,719 | $29,580 |
| 4 | Boise State UniversityThis school | $51,658 | $21,610 |
| 5 | The College of Idaho | $48,473 | $19,481 |
| 6 | Lewis-Clark State College | $46,001 | $15,635 |
| 7 | Idaho State University | $45,608 | $12,193 |
| 8 | Carrington College-Boise | $43,731 | - |
| 9 | College of Eastern Idaho | $42,057 | $8,778 |
| 10 | College of Southern Idaho | $40,916 | $6,095 |
| 11 | North Idaho College | $40,081 | $10,575 |
| 12 | Provo College-Idaho Falls Campus | $39,645 | $33,576 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 87.2% |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Boise State University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$18,165 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$17,974 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$20,731 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$25,893 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Boise State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $9,048 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $27,788 |
| Average Net Price | $21,610 |
18.1%
Pell Grant Rate
23.9%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,500
Median Debt
$217/mo
Monthly Payment
What students pay at Boise State University rose +31.5% since 2013
Average net price for the reported Title IV-recipient cohort went from $14,586 in 2013 to $19,182 in 2023, a rise of $4,596 in nominal dollars. Across the 4,315 colleges measured over the same 2013–2023 span, the median change was +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $14,5862023 · $19,182
Over the same years, enrollment went +3.2% (16,557 → 17,081 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
56.9%
Female
33.5%
First Generation
Outcomes
78.8%
Retention Rate
$45,251
Median Earnings (6yr)
59.6%
Earning Over $25K
65.9%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 61.0% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 78.8% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $45,251 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $51,658 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 59.6% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 65.9% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $217/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 48 | 3,805 | $63,203 | $112,120 | $22,316 |
| Master's | 15 | 771 | $74,064 | $128,689 | $29,236 |
| Certificate | 9 | 357 | $53,774 | $61,544 | $23,118 |
| Associate's | 2 | 125 | $48,980 | $50,335 | $13,959 |
| Post-baccalaureate Certificate | 1 | 0 | $70,500 | $70,500 | $15,632 |
| Graduate Certificate | 1 | 63 | $59,270 | $59,270 | - |
Top programs at Boise State University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$128,689 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$112,120 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$107,178 median earnings
- Electrical, Electronics, a…
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
$100,680 median earnings
- Construction Management
Construction Management
$95,250 median earnings
- Accounting and Related Ser…
Accounting and Related Services
$93,228 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$91,491 median earnings
- Allied Health Diagnostic, …
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
$89,863 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY
$21,620 net price · $10 apart
Canton City Schools Adult Career and Technical Education
Canton, OH
$21,634 net price · $24 apart
Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH
$21,637 net price · $27 apart
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA
$21,582 net price · $28 apart
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Boise State University? ▼
Boise State University is a public institution in Boise, Idaho. The acceptance rate is 87.2%. Undergraduate enrollment is 17,674 students.
How much do Boise State University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Boise State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $51,658 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $45,251.
How much does Boise State University cost? ▼
The average net price at Boise State University is $21,610. In-state tuition is $9,048 and out-of-state tuition is $27,788. Median student debt at graduation is $20,500.
What is the graduation rate at Boise State University? ▼
Boise State University has a 61.0% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 78.8%.
Is Boise State University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Boise State University is $20,500, while former students earn a median of $51,658 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 40% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 65.9% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $217.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Boise State University
- Compare Boise State University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Idaho side by side.Browse Idaho
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.