Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Boise State University #419 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 64.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with Boise State University sitting in the 78.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions #435 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — the program's median $89,863 four years after enrollment anchors Boise State University's strong health-focused earnings profile. Boise State University earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting an earnings advantage that holds across the university's health, business, and applied-science programs. The institution's composite ranking is supported by solid return on investment and a program mix centered on high-demand health professions, positioning Boise State University among the stronger-performing public universities in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Boise State University #419 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Boise, ID, Boise State University enrolls roughly 17,674 undergraduates. Retention stands at 78.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.2%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a broad-access public institution. The composite is anchored by what Boise State University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Boise State University in the 78.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,791, a figure shaped in part by the university's concentration in Health — a field that feeds directly into stable, in-demand careers across ID's regional labor market. Azimuth ranks Boise State University #435 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Boise State University admits about 87.2% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps the door open to a wide range of students — 18.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.5% are first-generation college students. Boise State University sits in the 56.2 percentile for affordability and the 54.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 75.5 percentile — a profile that reflects the university's role as a working-student-friendly institution serving ID's workforce pipeline.
Boise State University's published cost of attendance is $28,224. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-institution aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $18,165, middle-income families pay around $20,731, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,893. Azimuth ranks Boise State University #624 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Boise State's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The university participates in standard federal aid application processes using the FAFSA. For families weighing affordability across income levels, the income-band net prices above provide a realistic sense of what different household incomes typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,968; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,791, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Boise State University is a strong fit for students drawn to health, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university grounded in ID's growing regional economy. The earnings case is solid: graduates earn in the 64.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Boise State University sits in the 78.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The access picture is broad. 18.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.5% are first-generation college students, and 51.9% of Pell-eligible students complete their degrees — a signal that Boise State University supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. Low-income graduates sit in the 32.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, reinforcing the value of that access for students who need it most. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Boise State University admits roughly 87.2% of applicants, making it broadly accessible, and its program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related applied fields. Students whose interests align with those areas — and who want a public university with a clear regional workforce connection in Boise — will find the combination of earnings outcomes and broad access among the stronger options in the West.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Boise State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Peay State University Similar quality tier (#15168 ranked) | TN | 96% | $44,301 | #15168 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Similar quality tier (#15167 ranked) | WI | 89% | $61,760 | #15167 | Compare |
Marshall University Similar quality tier (#15165 ranked) | WV | 96% | $46,354 | #15165 | Compare |
Radford University Similar quality tier (#15157 ranked) | VA | 90% | $53,739 | #15157 | Compare |
University Of Akron Main Campus Similar quality tier (#15154 ranked) | OH | 60% | $46,600 | #15154 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Boise State University's published cost of attendance is $28,224. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-institution aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $18,165, middle-income families pay around $20,731, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,893.
Azimuth ranks Boise State University #624 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Boise State's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The university participates in standard federal aid application processes using the FAFSA.
For families weighing affordability across income levels, the income-band net prices above provide a realistic sense of what different household incomes typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,968; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,791, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Boise State University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,791, placing Boise State University in the 64.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Boise State University in the 78.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Boise State University #435 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Boise State University also sits in the 32.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning median earnings of $39,700 at that horizon.
The earnings pattern at Boise State University is anchored by its Health-leaning program mix. Nursing stands out as the highest aggregate-return major, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year pay.
Among the top programs by graduate count, Nursing program graduates 509 students and delivers median earnings of $91,491 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Nursing #86 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Business/Commerce, General also enroll large cohorts — 291 and 209 graduates respectively — with four-year median earnings of $89,863 and $64,202.
On the higher-earning end, Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies post four-year median earnings of $51,184 and $53,278, with Azimuth ranking Psychology, General #170 and Communication and Media Studies #112 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business concentration — 18% of graduates — alongside Engineering at 5% and Social Sciences at 5% reflects a program portfolio oriented toward stable, in-demand career pathways in ID.
Computer Science
126 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
37 graduates
Construction Management
52 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
509 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
291 graduates
Boise State University's program mix is anchored in health, business, and applied professional fields — a signature that reflects the university's role as a comprehensive public institution serving Idaho's growing economy. Health programs represent 18% of graduates, making Business the dominant concentration, followed by Engineering at 5% and Social Sciences at 5%.
Across 58 programs, 38 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 4,072 students annually. The program with the strongest combination of scale and earnings is Nursing, which anchors Boise State University's economic profile by pairing a large graduate cohort with competitive four-year earnings.
Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 509 students with median earnings of $91,491 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #86 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Business/Commerce, General also enroll large cohorts of 291 and 209 graduates respectively, with four-year median earnings of $89,863 and $64,202, reflecting the breadth of workforce-ready pathways Boise State University offers across health and professional fields.
The highest-earning programs at Boise State University are concentrated in technical and applied disciplines. Computer Science leads with median earnings of $112,120 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #97 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nursing and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions follow, with graduates earning $91,491 and $89,863 respectively — programs that feed directly into Idaho's expanding technology and healthcare labor markets. These high-mobility pathways contrast with fields like Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies, which are more locally oriented and often serve as foundations for graduate or professional study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national and regional labor-market trends.
