Boise State vs. BYU-I

Deciding between Boise State University and Brigham Young University Idaho? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boise State University
Brigham Young University Idaho

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Boise State Boise, ID
  • BYU-I Rexburg, ID
  • Setting
  • Boise State Midsize City
  • BYU-I Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Boise State 27,198
  • BYU-I 45,585
  • Type
  • Boise State Public 4 Year
  • BYU-I Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Boise State #900
  • BYU-I #822
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Boise State -
  • BYU-I Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church)
  • Status
  • Boise State Non-profit
  • BYU-I Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Boise State
  • BYU-I
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Boise State $9,048
  • BYU-I $4,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Boise State $27,788
  • BYU-I $4,800
  • Room & Board
  • Boise State $14,884
  • BYU-I $5,180
  • Average Net Price
  • Boise State $21,583
  • BYU-I $8,528
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Boise State $9,507
  • BYU-I $6,733
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Boise State 76%
  • BYU-I 49%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Boise State 16,082
  • BYU-I 18,951
  • Admitted
  • Boise State 14,025
  • BYU-I 18,146
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Boise State 87.2%
  • BYU-I 95.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Boise State 24.1%
  • BYU-I 43.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Boise State 1120
  • BYU-I 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Boise State 23
  • BYU-I 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Boise State 3.37
  • BYU-I 3.34
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Boise State B+
  • BYU-I B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Boise State Moderate
  • BYU-I Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Boise State
  • BYU-I
  • ACT Range
  • Boise State 21/26
  • BYU-I 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • Boise State 1030/1210
  • BYU-I 970/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Boise State Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • BYU-I Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Boise State Aug 1, 2027
  • BYU-I Feb 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Boise State 20:1
  • BYU-I 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Boise State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • BYU-I
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (28%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Boise State 29%
  • BYU-I 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Boise State $41,600
  • BYU-I $46,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Boise State 54%
  • BYU-I 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Boise State $22,929
  • BYU-I $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Boise State $237
  • BYU-I $113
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Boise State 43%
  • BYU-I 46%
  • % Women
  • Boise State 57%
  • BYU-I 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Boise State Low
  • BYU-I Low
  • HBCU
  • Boise State No
  • BYU-I No
  • % White
  • Boise State 74%
  • BYU-I 79%
  • % Asian
  • Boise State 2%
  • BYU-I 1%
  • % Black
  • Boise State 2%
  • BYU-I 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Boise State 11%
  • BYU-I 3%
  • % Native American
  • Boise State 1%
  • BYU-I 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Boise State 0%
  • BYU-I 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Boise State 4%
  • BYU-I 6%
  • % International
  • Boise State 5%
  • BYU-I 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Boise State 2%
  • BYU-I 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Boise State 64%
  • BYU-I 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Boise State 35%
  • BYU-I 50%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Boise State Yes
  • BYU-I Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Boise State No
  • BYU-I No
  • Meal Plan
  • Boise State Yes
  • BYU-I Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Boise State Yes
  • BYU-I No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Boise State Yes
  • BYU-I No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boise State University in Boise, ID with Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg, ID on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brigham Young University Idaho is larger than Boise State based on total student enrollment (45,585 students vs. 27,198 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boise State University is located in Boise, ID (Midsize City setting); Brigham Young University Idaho is in Rexburg, ID (Distant Town setting).
  • Boise State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brigham Young University Idaho is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boise State University 20:1; Brigham Young University Idaho 22:1.

Boise State vs. BYU-I Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Boise State or BYU-I? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Brigham Young University Idaho than Boise State ($8,528 vs. $21,583).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brigham Young University Idaho are 65.2% lower than at Boise State University ($5,180 vs. $14,884).
  • Boise State University is 88.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BYU-I (about $4,248 more per year; $9,048.00 vs. $4,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 478.9% higher at Boise State than at Brigham Young University Idaho (about $22,988 more per year; $27,788.00 vs. $4,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boise State University than at Brigham Young University Idaho (76% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 41.2% larger than aid received by Brigham Young University Idaho students ($9,507 vs. $6,733).

Boise State vs. BYU-I Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or BYU-I? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BYU-I and Boise State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boise State University (1120) is 30 points higher than at BYU-I (1090).
  • Incoming Boise State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at BYU-I (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boise State University 1030/1210; Brigham Young University Idaho 970/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boise State University 21/26; Brigham Young University Idaho 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Boise State - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); BYU-I - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Boise State Aug 1, 2027; BYU-I Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Boise State students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at BYU-I (3.34).
  • BYU-I has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Boise State (87.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Boise State vs. 43.9% at BYU-I.

Boise State vs. BYU-I Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Boise State and BYU-I? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Brigham Young University Idaho's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Boise State University's (29%).
  • Graduates from Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Boise State graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brigham Young University Idaho graduates have a $11,929 lower median loan debt than Boise State graduates ($11,000 vs. $22,929).
  • Among borrowers, BYU-I graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Boise State graduates ($113 vs. $237).
  • More BYU-I graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.