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Idaho Central Washington University UW-Seattle GCU Western Washington University Portland State University UWB ASU Gonzaga U of A OSU Seattle U| Boise State University | Washington State University | Northern Arizona University | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
| Location | Boise, ID | Pullman, WA | Flagstaff, AZ | |
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | Small City | |
| Enrollment | 26,670 | 26,490 | 28,186 | |
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | |
| National Ranking | #886 | #385 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit | |
| Website | boisestate.edu | wsu.edu | nau.edu | |
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
| Tuition (In State) | $5,941 | $10,976 | $11,352 | |
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,135 | $27,052 | $27,600 | |
| Room & Board | $16,610 | $13,131 | $11,728 | |
| Avg Net Price | $19,037 | $18,155 | $16,544 | |
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,167 | $10,370 | $12,377 | |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 78% | 87% | 95% |
Admission |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 15,949 | 26,166 | 37,805 | |
| Admitted | 13,391 | 22,335 | 34,383 | |
| Acceptance Rate | 84% | 85.4% | 90.9% | |
| Enrolled % | 23% | 19% | 15.9% | |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.5 | 3.7 | |
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | A- | |
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | Unavailable | |
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 1020/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 15:1 | 19:1 | |
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Outcomes |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
| Graduation Rate | 29% | 67% | 52% | |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $54,400 | $43,900 | |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 71% | 55% | |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,929 | $20,429 | $20,000 | |
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $211 | $206 |
Diversity |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 7% | 6% | |
| % Women | 8% | 10% | 11% | |
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | High | |
| HBCU | No | No | No | |
| % White | 74% | 63% | 59% | |
| % Black | 2% | 3% | 3% | |
| % Hispanic | 11% | 13% | 22% | |
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | 3% | |
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 8% | 5% | |
| % International | 5% | 5% | 4% | |
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 83% | 79% | |
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 15% | 20% | |
Campus |
Boise State | Washington State | NAU | |
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | No | |
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | No | |
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Learn More | Details | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boise State University is larger than than Washington State based on total student enrollment (26,670 students vs. 26,490 students)
Boise State vs. Washington State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Boise State or Washington State?
- Washington State University is 84.8% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($10,976.00 vs. $5,941.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at Washington State than Boise State University ($27,052.00 vs. $24,135.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than Boise State ($18,155 vs. $19,037)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 26.5% lower than costs at Boise State University ($13,131 vs. $16,610)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Washington State University than Boise State University (87% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 27% larger than aid received Boise State University ($10,370 vs. $8,167)
Boise State vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or Washington State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington State or Boise State .
- The average SAT score at Boise State University (1046) is 7 points higher than at Washington State (1039)
- Incoming Boise State students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Washington State (23)
- Accepted freshman Washington State students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Boise State (3.37)
- Washington State has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than Boise State (84%)
Boise State vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Boise State or Washington State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Washington State and Boise State.
- The graduation rate at Washington State is higher than Boise State University (67% vs. 29%)
- Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $12,800 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $41,600)
- Washington State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Boise State graduates. ($20,429 vs. $22,929)
- Washington State graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Boise State graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
- More Washington State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/