Boise State vs. C of I

Should I go to Boise State University or The College of Idaho? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Boise State or C of I 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. The College of Idaho comparison
Boise State University The College of Idaho College 3 College 4
Boise State University The College of Idaho
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Overview

Boise State C of I
Location Boise, ID Caldwell, ID
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 26,115 1,082
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #899 #433
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website boisestate.edu collegeofidaho.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Boise State C of I
Tuition (In State) $5,532 $33,825
Tuition (Out of State) $22,869 $33,825
Room & Board $13,841 $10,820
Avg Net Price $17,724 $24,075
Avg Grant Aid $9,892 $23,878
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

Boise State C of I
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,795 4,490
Admitted 14,096 2,044
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 45.5%
Enrolled % 22.2% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26 23/29
SAT Range 1030/1210 1070/1240
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 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Boise State C of I
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • History (10%)

Outcomes

Boise State C of I
Graduation Rate 29% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,929 $25,995
Median Loan Payment $237 $268

Diversity

Boise State C of I
% Men 42% 49%
% Women 58% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 66%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 5% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Boise State C of I
% In-State 59% 52%
% Out-of-State 40% 32%

Campus

Boise State C of I
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boise State University is larger than than C of I based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 1,082 students)

Boise State vs. C of I Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Boise State or C of I?

  • The College of Idaho is 511.4% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($33,825.00 vs. $5,532.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.9% higher at C of I than Boise State University ($33,825.00 vs. $22,869.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boise State University than C of I ($17,724 vs. $24,075)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Idaho are 27.9% lower than costs at Boise State University ($10,820 vs. $13,841)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The College of Idaho than Boise State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Idaho students is 141.4% larger than aid received Boise State University ($23,878 vs. $9,892)

Boise State vs. C of I Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Boise State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than C of I (45.5%)

Boise State vs. C of I Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Boise State or C of I? 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 C of I and Boise State.

  • The graduation rate at C of I is higher than Boise State University (63% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from The College of Idaho earn on average $4,100 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $41,600)
  • Boise State University students graduate with a $3,066 lower median federal student loan debt than C of I graduates. ($22,929 vs. $25,995)
  • Boise State graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than C of I graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
  • More C of I graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 54%)

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