Idaho Students Drive Record Enrollment at Boise State
The university enrolled 2,305 new first-time Idaho residents this fall, the largest incoming class from the state in its history.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
2,305 new first-time students from Idaho enrolled at Boise State University in the fall 2026 term, marking the largest incoming class of in-state residents in the institution's history. This cohort represents a 25.9 percent increase in new Idaho students compared to the fall 2022 enrollment figure. The growth contributes to a total student population of 28,536, which is a 9.1 percent rise from four years prior.
Data from the university's Facts and Figures page indicates that Idaho residents now constitute 69 percent of the student body. Out-of-state students make up the remaining 31 percent. While the proportion of in-state students has grown, students from California, Washington, and Oregon remain the most prominent external groups represented on campus.
Tuition costs reflect this demographic split. Idaho residents pay $9,789 in tuition, while nonresident students pay $29,477 before scholarships. This price gap influences the enrollment decisions of many high school graduates in the state.
Ethan Allen, a senior from Idaho Falls majoring in political science, cited financial considerations as the primary driver for his decision to attend Boise State. Allen stated that he remained in Idaho to avoid out-of-state tuition and fees, citing better scholarship options at home. “Initially I chose to stay in state because I had better scholarship options in state and didn’t want to incur any student debt through out of state tuition and fees,” Allen said.
For other students, the campus culture plays a role in the decision to stay local. Raima Ragesh, a sophomore from Idaho studying political science and legal studies, initially planned to attend a university outside the state. She applied to several schools nationwide before selecting Boise State after a campus tour. Ragesh noted that the presence of many out-of-state students during her visit altered her perspective. “I mean, everyone I met on tour was from out of state which made me feel a bit more like I wouldn’t be only going to college with kids I went to high school with,” Ragesh said.
Out-of-state students benefit from the Western Undergraduate Exchange, or WUE, which reduces tuition for eligible students from participating Western states. At Boise State, the WUE agreement provides approximately $16,339 in annual savings. Participating states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Students from Guam and American Samoa may also qualify.
Eligibility for the WUE scholarship requires a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 for most majors and 3.9 for nursing students. Certain programs, including Construction Management, Radiological Science, and fully online courses, are excluded from the agreement. Cass Metz, a sophomore from Fort Collins, Colorado, double majoring in human resources and business administration, attributed her choice of Boise State to the financial benefits of the WUE program.
Metz described the tuition structure as courageous given rising costs in higher education. “I also came here because of the opportunities that I was provided with the WUE Scholarship, I think that’s the tuition,” Metz said. “I think that tuition is absolutely courageous. It is getting more and more expensive every year, while the quality of our education is not improving.”
The university's Strategic Enrollment and Retention plan, active from 2023 to 2027, aims to improve degree accessibility and retention rates. The initiative targets specific student groups, including first-generation students, those eligible for Pell Grants, Latino students, and students from rural areas. The plan seeks to ensure that these populations can complete their college paths successfully.
Despite the shift in demographic balance, the university maintains a diverse student body. Allen noted that the mix of in-state and out-of-state residents creates a varied social environment. “There is a really cool range of people from all sorts of backgrounds to meet and make friends with,” Allen said.
