Boise State University vs. San Diego State University

A side-by-side comparison of Boise State and San Diego State — acceptance rates (83.9% vs. 37.4%), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.

Want to compare other schools? Open the interactive comparison tool →

Boise StateBoise, ID

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

Boise State CDSIn-state vs. out-of-state admit rates from Boise State CDS (Fall 2024).
83.9%acceptance rate
Applied
17,582
Admitted
14,749
Enrolled
3,881

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state84.5%
7,957 admitted of 9,420 applicants
Out-of-state91.3%
6,012 admitted of 6,588 applicants
International75.7%
56 admitted of 74 applicants

Early admissions

Boise State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Not offered
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Boise State is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

2024–25 CDSBoise State's 2025-2026 Common Data Set hasn't published this section yet, so this figure is shown from the 2024-2025 edition instead.

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
960
50th Percentile
1070
75th Percentile
1180

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
20
50th Percentile
23
75th Percentile
26

Class rank

Boise State does not report this.

Not reported

Admissions factors

How Boise State weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Boise State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

2023–24 CDSBoise State's 2025-2026 Common Data Set hasn't published this section yet, so this figure is shown from the 2023-2024 edition instead.
$31,194
In-State
$49,931
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$9,051$27,788
Room & Board
$14,884$14,884
Other Expenses
$7,259$7,259
Total
$31,194$49,931

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$18k
$30–48k~$18k
$48–75k~$21k
$75–110k~$24k
$110k+~$26k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants18.1%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
39%
Avg. Package
$14,953
Avg. Need Met
59%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Health Professions
Biological & Life Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
Psychology
Communication
Education
Engineering
Other
Business
23%
Health
22%
Life Sci
6%
Interdisc
5%
Psychology
5%
Comms
5%
Education
5%
Engineering
5%
Other
23%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

20:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return79%
Graduate within six years60%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$65k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$21k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Boise State’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Nursing

    386 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$91kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$17k median debt
  • Communication & Media Studies

    208 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$53kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Business Administration & Management

    188 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$66kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Psychology

    186 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$51kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Biology

    124 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$50kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
Show all 29 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

2023–24 CDSBoise State's 2025-2026 Common Data Set hasn't published this section yet, so this figure is shown from the 2023-2024 edition instead.
First-Years On Campus
62%
In Fraternities
N/A
In Sororities
N/A

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Midsize city
Location
Boise, ID

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
3926J
4629F
5635M
6240A
7248M
8154J
9362J
9161A
8053S
6542O
4932N
3925D
Snow a year
18 in
Precipitation a year
12 in
Days at 90°F or above
55
Days below 32°F
108

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, BOISE AIR TERMINAL, ID US station, 3.2 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

43%
57%
Male
10,953
Female
14,355

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White70.9%
Hispanic17.4%
Other5.2%
Asian and Pacific Islander3.3%
Black2.5%
Native American<1%
San Diego StateSan Diego, CA

Acceptance rate

Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.

37.4%acceptance rate
Applied
95,444
Admitted
35,709
Enrolled
6,911

Early admissions

San Diego State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Not offered
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

San Diego State is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.

SAT / ACT scores are not used

San Diego State does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.

Class rank

Where San Diego State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class25%
Top quarter of class66%
Top half of class95%

Based on the 29% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. San Diego State does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How San Diego State weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from San Diego State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$36,314
In-State
$50,444
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$9,662$23,792
Room & Board
$21,856$21,856
Other Expenses
$4,796$4,796
Total
$36,314$50,444

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$10k
$30–48k~$10k
$48–75k~$13k
$75–110k~$16k
$110k+~$24k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants31.7%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
39%
Avg. Package
$17,270
Avg. Need Met
73%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Psychology
Social Sciences
Engineering
Communication
Computer Science
Health Professions
Other
Business
24%
Psychology
8%
Social Sci
8%
Engineering
7%
Comms
7%
CompSci
6%
Health
6%
Other
34%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

24:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return91%
Graduate within six years78%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$68k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$15k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

San Diego State’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Business Administration & Management

    2,156 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$70kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$15k median debt
  • Psychology

    669 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$51kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$15k median debt
  • Criminal Justice

    542 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$58kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$13k median debt
  • Kinesiology & Exercise Science

    405 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$60kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$15k median debt
  • Communication & Media Studies

    300 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$61kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$15k median debt
Show all 31 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
71%
In Fraternities
14%
In Sororities
15%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Large city
Location
San Diego, CA

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
6943J
6944F
7148M
7551A
7656M
8159J
8663J
8965A
8762S
8156O
7547N
6942D
Snow a year
0 in
Precipitation a year
12 in
Days at 90°F or above
57
Days below 32°F
3

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, EL CAJON, CA US station, 8.5 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

43%
57%
Male
15,158
Female
20,123

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

Hispanic37.1%
White32.6%
Other13.6%
Asian and Pacific Islander13.2%
Black3.4%
Native American<1%

Writing your Boise State or San Diego State application essay?

Paste your draft and get specific, line-by-line feedback on what is and isn't landing — scored against the rubrics admissions readers use.

Get essay feedback

Boise State vs. San Diego State: frequently asked questions

San Diego State is more selective: it admits about 37.4% of applicants, compared with 83.9% at Boise State. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.

San Diego State has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $23,792 in tuition and fees versus $27,788 at Boise State, a gap of about $3,996 a year before financial aid.

San Diego State graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 78% versus 60% at Boise State.

Boise State, and only there. Boise State's Common Data Set rates the application essay considered, while San Diego State reports that it does not consider the essay at all — so an application there rests on grades, course rigor, and test scores.

Source: Boise State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. Middle 50% SAT, Enrolled First-Years and Middle 50% ACT, Enrolled First-Years are from the 2024-2025 edition. % of Domestic First-Years From Out of State, In-State Tuition & Fees, Out-of-State Tuition & Fees, and % of First-Years Living On Campus are from the 2023-2024 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Boise State. Banner photo by Rickmouser45, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Source: San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with San Diego State. Banner photo by Stuart Seeger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).