Boise State vs. Central Washington University

Should I go to Boise State University or Central Washington University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Boise State or Central Washington University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Boise State University vs. Central Washington University comparison
Boise State University Central Washington University College 3 College 4
Boise State University Central Washington University
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Overview

Boise State Central Washington University
Location Boise, ID Ellensburg, WA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 26,115 9,257
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #899 #610
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website boisestate.edu cwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Boise State Central Washington University
Tuition (In State) $5,532 $6,816
Tuition (Out of State) $22,869 $23,881
Room & Board $13,841 $13,645
Avg Net Price $17,724 $15,864
Avg Grant Aid $9,892 $9,294
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 73%

Admission

Boise State Central Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,795 6,409
Admitted 14,096 5,992
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 93.5%
Enrolled % 22.2% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 17/24
SAT Range 1030/1210 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Boise State Central Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Boise State Central Washington University
Graduation Rate 29% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,929 $20,737
Median Loan Payment $237 $214

Diversity

Boise State Central Washington University
% Men 42% 47%
% Women 58% 53%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

Boise State Central Washington University
% In-State 59% 95%
% Out-of-State 40% 5%

Campus

Boise State Central Washington University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boise State University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 9,257 students)

Boise State vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Boise State or Central Washington University?

  • Central Washington University is 23.2% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($6,816.00 vs. $5,532.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at Central Washington University than Boise State University ($23,881.00 vs. $22,869.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Boise State ($15,864 vs. $17,724)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 1.4% lower than costs at Boise State University ($13,645 vs. $13,841)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Boise State University than Central Washington University (93% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 6.4% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($9,892 vs. $9,294)

Boise State vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or Central Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central Washington University or Boise State .

  • The average SAT score at Boise State University (1046) is 68 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
  • Incoming Boise State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central Washington University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Boise State students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Boise State (83.9%)

Boise State vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Boise State or Central Washington University? 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 Central Washington University and Boise State.

  • The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Boise State University (56% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $6,200 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $41,600)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $2,192 lower median federal student loan debt than Boise State graduates. ($20,737 vs. $22,929)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Boise State graduates. ($214 vs. $237)
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/