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Idaho CMU Washington State GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State MSU ISU Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois Michigan Tech| Boise State University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Boise State | WMU | ||
| Location | Boise, ID | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,115 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #899 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | boisestate.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Boise State | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,532 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,869 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,841 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,724 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,892 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 93% |
Admission |
Boise State | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,795 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 14,096 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.9% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Boise State | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Boise State | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 29% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,929 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $275 |
Diversity |
Boise State | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Boise State | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 19% | ||
Campus |
Boise State | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boise State University is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 17,000 students)
Boise State vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Boise State or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 162.5% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $5,532.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26% higher at Boise State than Western Michigan University ($22,869.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boise State University than WMU ($17,724 vs. $20,030)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 24.7% lower than costs at Boise State University ($11,102 vs. $13,841)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Boise State University as Western Michigan University (93% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 45.2% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($9,892 vs. $6,813)
Boise State vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or Boise State .
- The average SAT score at Boise State University (1046) is 16 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming Boise State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Boise State (3.37)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Boise State (83.9%)
Boise State vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Boise State or WMU? 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 WMU and Boise State.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Boise State University (56% vs. 29%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $7,300 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $41,600)
- Boise State University students graduate with a $3,704 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($22,929 vs. $26,633)
- Boise State graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($237 vs. $275)
- More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/