Boise State University vs. San Diego State University
A side-by-side comparison of Boise State and San Diego State — acceptance rates (87.2% vs. 37.4%), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Boise State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Boise State is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Boise State does not report this.
Not reported
Admissions Factors
How Boise State weighs each part of your application.
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.
Out-of-state students pay $18,737 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
San Diego State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
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.
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.
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.
Out-of-state students pay $14,130 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Boise State vs. San Diego State: frequently asked questions
Is Boise State or San Diego State harder to get into?＋
San Diego State is more selective: it admits about 37.4% of applicants, compared with 87.2% at Boise State. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Is Boise State or San Diego State cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
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.
Does Boise State or San Diego State have a higher graduation rate?＋
San Diego State graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 78% versus 59% at Boise State.
Source: Boise State University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Student-Faculty Ratio, Out-of-State Students, In-State Cost, Out-of-State Cost, and First-Years 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).