Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Idaho Northern Illinois Illinois Washington State UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University MSU WMU UO| Boise State University | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Boise State | ISU | ||
| Location | Boise, ID | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,115 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #899 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | boisestate.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Boise State | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,532 | $11,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,869 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,841 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,724 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,892 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 97% |
Admission |
Boise State | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,795 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 14,096 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.9% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 1000/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Boise State | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Boise State | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 29% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,929 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $227 |
Diversity |
Boise State | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Boise State | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Boise State | ISU | ||
| 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 ISU based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 20,683 students)
Boise State vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Boise State or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 114% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $5,532.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at ISU than Boise State University ($23,681.00 vs. $22,869.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boise State University than ISU ($17,724 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 30.6% lower than costs at Boise State University ($10,602 vs. $13,841)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Boise State University (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 17.5% larger than aid received Boise State University ($11,619 vs. $9,892)
Boise State vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Boise State .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 44 points higher than at Boise State (1046)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Boise State (23)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Boise State (3.37)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Boise State (83.9%)
Boise State vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Boise State or ISU? 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 ISU and Boise State.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Boise State University (71% vs. 29%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $41,600)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $929 lower median federal student loan debt than Boise State graduates. ($22,000 vs. $22,929)
- ISU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Boise State graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/