Boise State’s automatic money comes down to two things: where your student lives and their unweighted GPA. No test scores, no essays. Here is what the ladder looks like for 2026-27:
Student
Unweighted GPA
Automatic Award
Idaho resident (Pell-eligible)
3.20 to 3.69
True Blue Promise: $2,000/yr
Idaho resident
3.70 to 3.89 / 3.90+
Dean’s $2,500/yr / Presidential $3,000/yr
Out-of-state, WUE state
3.50+
WUE: about $16,339/yr
Out-of-state, any state
3.10 to 3.29 / 3.30+
Ridgeline $5,000/yr / Summit $10,000/yr
Every award renews for four years if your student keeps the GPA and finishes 24 credits a year. Students get one automatic award, not a stack of them.
GPA 3.10+ (nonresident) / 3.20+ (Idaho); no test scores
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-blind
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 15 • FAFSA: Feb 15
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Residency & Waivers
WUE
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Boise State (Read This First)
Test scores don’t count at all. Boise State is test-blind. Admission and automatic merit run on cumulative unweighted GPA, and Boise State recalculates it from the transcript, plus and minus grades included.
The out-of-state deadline is a wall, not a suggestion. Out-of-state students admitted after December 15 aren’t considered for nonresident scholarships at all. Idaho students have until February 15.
Your major can cancel out-of-state money. Declaring Nursing, Pre-Nursing, Construction Management, Radiologic Science, an alternative-fee program or a fully online program knocks a student out of Ridgeline, Summit and WUE. Nursing students only have WUE Nursing, and it needs a 3.90.
WUE here has a GPA gate. Living in a WUE state isn’t enough. Boise State requires a 3.50 unweighted GPA in an eligible major.
The FAFSA is part of Idaho merit. True Blue Promise depends on Pell eligibility read from the FAFSA, so the FAFSA has to be filed by February 15 too.
Merit is one shot and can’t be deferred. Awards are set at admission. If your student takes a gap year, the scholarship is canceled and re-evaluated, and a higher college GPA later won’t upgrade it.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Boise State University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $21,583/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in WUE.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Boise State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Boise State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$500 to $1,300 more than the in-state total below.$900 to $2,300 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$26,683
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$9,789
Housing & meals (typical)
$16,894
Total billed cost
$26,683
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$46,371
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$29,477
Housing & meals (typical)
$16,894
Total billed cost
$46,371
That is $19,688 more per year than Idaho residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $21,583 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
WUE: Students from WUE states and territories with a 3.50+ unweighted GPA and an eligible major pay 150% of resident tuition, a savings of about $16,339 a year at Boise State. Nursing and Pre-Nursing majors need a 3.90+ for WUE Nursing. Construction Management, Radiological Science, alternative-fee and fully online majors are excluded. Years on WUE do not count toward Idaho residency. Native American Nonresident Scholarship: Up to ten registered members per semester of the Burns Paiute, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone, and Shoshone-Paiute (Nevada) tribes can receive up to $431 per credit toward tuition. Blue Thunder Marching Band: Out-of-state students can earn nonresident fee waivers through a successful band audition.
💵 What Tuition Actually Looks Like After Automatic Merit (2026-27)
Boise State publishes its own after-scholarship math. These are tuition and fees only, before housing and meals:
Parent translation: a WUE student pays only about $3,350 more in tuition than an Idaho student with no award. That’s why the 3.50 GPA line matters so much for western families.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Boise State University
How much does Boise State cost for out-of-state students with WUE?
For 2026-27, Boise State lists out-of-state tuition and fees at $29,477. WUE takes off about $16,339, leaving roughly $13,138 before housing and meals. Your student needs to live in a WUE state, carry a 3.50 unweighted GPA, pick an eligible major, and have everything in by December 15.
Can WUE students switch to in-state tuition after a year?
Not by staying on WUE. Boise State says time on WUE doesn’t count toward Idaho residency. And if a student’s residency changes after a scholarship has already paid out, Boise State won’t swap it for a resident award.
What does on-campus housing and food cost?
Boise State estimates $16,894 for food and housing on campus in 2026-27, the same for residents and nonresidents. Living at home drops that estimate to $7,686.
What other costs should we budget for?
Boise State’s own estimate adds about $800 for books and supplies, $3,400 for transportation and $3,600 for personal expenses for an on-campus student. None of that shows up on the bill, but it’s real money.
Is the average net price really $21,583?
That’s the most recent federal figure (2023-24) for first-year Idaho students who received grant or scholarship aid. It includes housing, books and living costs. Families with lower incomes paid less on average; families with no grant aid aren’t in that number.
Are there tuition breaks for Native American students?
Yes. Members of Idaho’s five federally recognized tribes pay $0 per credit in tuition (fees still apply). A smaller nonresident version covers members of four Boise Valley tribes in Oregon and Nevada. Details are in the Hidden Gems section below.
Is there a quick way to estimate our own cost?
Boise State has a Cost of Attendance Calculator that factors in automatic scholarships, plus a federal net price calculator for need-based aid. Both are linked in the Official Links section.
📅 Boise State Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
Mid-November: The Boise State Scholarship Application opens.
December 15: Out-of-state automatic merit deadline (admission application and transcript received) and the Honors Nonresident Scholarship deadline.
February 15: Idaho automatic merit deadline, FAFSA priority date, Honors scholarship deadline, and the close of most Scholarship Application awards.
May 1: Automatic scholarship offers must be accepted, and departmental awards are announced by this date.
Parent rule of thumb: if there’s any chance your student enrolls out of state, December 15 is your real deadline, even if they’re still deciding.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: Boise State University
These awards are based only on your student’s cumulative unweighted high school GPA and where they live. No separate application, no test scores, no essay.
Out-of-state students must have everything in by December 15; Idaho students by February 15.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$16,339/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students get one nonresident automatic award, and Boise State applies the biggest one they qualify for, so WUE replaces Ridgeline or Summit instead of adding to them. It does combine with Honors scholarships, Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Eligible for 2026-27: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, plus the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Ineligible majors: Nursing, Pre-Nursing, Construction Management, Radiological Science, Pre-Radiological Science, alternative-fee programs and fully online programs (Nursing students should look at WUE Nursing). Applies only to nonresident tuition, not cash. Years on WUE do not count toward Idaho residency.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students living in a WUE state or territory with a 3.50 or higher unweighted GPA and an eligible major. It takes about $16,339 off the nonresident bill each year for four years, bringing 2026-27 tuition and fees to roughly $13,138.
Automatic
True Blue Promise Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.2+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Idaho students get one of the three resident automatic awards (True Blue Promise, Dean's or Presidential), not more. It combines with Pell, Idaho state aid, Honors scholarships and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews for 4 years (8 semesters) with a 2.50 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits across fall and spring. Repeated courses and summer credits do not count toward renewal. Awarded only at entry: a student who starts at Boise State without it cannot pick it up later.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pell-eligible Idaho residents with unweighted GPAs from 3.20 to 3.69 who finish admission and the FAFSA by February 15. If your family qualifies for Pell, this is $2,000 a year with no essay.
Automatic
Presidential Scholarship (Resident)
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.9+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Idaho students get one of the three resident automatic awards (True Blue Promise, Dean's or Presidential), not more. It combines with Honors scholarships, Pell, Idaho state aid and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews for 4 years (8 semesters) with a 3.00 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits across fall and spring. Boise State is test-blind, so ACT and SAT scores play no part. The award is based on cumulative unweighted GPA as Boise State calculates it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Idaho residents with unweighted GPAs from 3.90 to 4.00. Students at this level should also apply to the Honors College by February 15, since Honors money layers on top.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship (Resident)
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Idaho students get one of the three resident automatic awards (True Blue Promise, Dean's or Presidential), not more. It combines with Honors scholarships, Pell, Idaho state aid and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews for 4 years (8 semesters) with a 3.00 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits across fall and spring. Repeated courses and summer credits do not count toward renewal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Idaho residents with unweighted GPAs from 3.70 to 3.89. If your student misses Presidential by a few hundredths of a point, this is the landing spot.
Automatic
Ridgeline Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.1+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
One nonresident automatic award per student, and Boise State applies the largest one you qualify for. Combines with Honors scholarships, Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews for 4 years (8 semesters) with a 2.50 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits across fall and spring. Applies only to nonresident tuition, not cash. Ineligible majors: Nursing, Pre-Nursing, Construction Management, Radiological Science, Pre-Radiological Science, alternative-fee programs and fully online programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with unweighted GPAs from 3.10 to 3.29 in an eligible major. Brings 2026-27 tuition and fees from $29,477 to about $24,477.
Automatic
Summit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
One nonresident automatic award per student. WUE is bigger for students who qualify. Combines with Honors scholarships, Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews for 4 years (8 semesters) with a 3.00 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits across fall and spring. Applies only to nonresident tuition, not cash. Ineligible majors: Nursing, Pre-Nursing, Construction Management, Radiological Science, Pre-Radiological Science, alternative-fee programs and fully online programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with 3.30 to 4.00 unweighted GPAs in an eligible major who don't land WUE, either because they live outside a WUE state or have a GPA from 3.30 to 3.49. Brings 2026-27 tuition and fees to about $19,477.
Automatic
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Nursing Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$16,339/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.9+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
One nonresident automatic award per student. Combines with Honors scholarships, Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Must declare Pre-Nursing or Nursing. Same WUE states and territories as the standard WUE. Construction Management, Radiological Science, Pre-Radiological Science, alternative-fee programs and fully online programs are ineligible. Applies only to nonresident tuition, not cash.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nursing-bound students from a WUE state with a 3.90 or higher unweighted GPA. The regular WUE excludes Nursing majors, so this is their only WUE path, and the GPA bar is much higher.
Data last verified Oct 9, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Students receive one automatic award. Idaho students get True Blue Promise, Dean’s or Presidential; out-of-state students get Ridgeline, Summit or WUE, whichever is largest. Nonresident awards only reduce nonresident tuition, so they never come back as cash.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Boise State University)
Does Boise State use ACT or SAT scores for scholarships?
No. Boise State is test-blind for admission and merit. Homeschool and GED students are the exception: the Scholarship Committee reviews them holistically.
Which GPA does Boise State use?
Cumulative unweighted GPA, recalculated by Boise State Admissions. It includes plus and minus grades and doesn’t count grade replacements, so the number can differ a little from the one on your student’s transcript.
What happens if we miss the deadline?
Out-of-state students admitted after December 15 aren’t considered for Ridgeline, Summit or WUE. Idaho students who miss February 15 lose priority and are only considered if money is left.
Does every student from a WUE state get WUE?
No. Boise State requires a 3.50 unweighted GPA and an eligible major. Students from WUE states with a 3.30 to 3.49 GPA usually land Summit instead.
Which majors lose out-of-state merit?
Nursing, Pre-Nursing, Construction Management, Radiological Science, Pre-Radiological Science, alternative-fee programs and fully online programs aren’t eligible for Ridgeline, Summit or WUE. Nursing and Pre-Nursing students can still get WUE Nursing with a 3.90 or higher.
Why does True Blue Promise need the FAFSA?
It’s partly need-based. Your student has to be Pell-eligible based on a FAFSA filed by February 15, with a 3.20 to 3.69 GPA.
How does my student keep the award?
Enroll in at least 12 credits every fall and spring semester, finish 24 credits a year, and keep the cumulative GPA (2.50 for True Blue Promise and Ridgeline, 3.00 for the rest). Boise State checks at the end of each spring, and summer classes and repeated courses don’t count.
Can my student take a gap year and keep the scholarship?
No. Boise State’s scholarships for new students can’t be deferred. A deferral cancels the award, and your student gets re-evaluated under the criteria for the new start term.
Can the award go up if my student earns great grades at Boise State?
No. Automatic awards are locked in based on what Boise State had by the deadline.
Boise State does not run a big, interview-style full-ride competition for incoming freshmen. The largest institutional money is the automatic ladder, especially WUE for western families.
The competitive dollars mostly live inside the Boise State Scholarship Application: hundreds of donor, alumni and department awards that open in mid-November and mostly close February 15.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Boise State?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Boise State Parent Translation
Automatic Merit
One only
Your student gets one automatic award. Out-of-state, Boise State applies the biggest of Ridgeline, Summit or WUE.
Honors Scholarships
Yes
One-year Honors awards ($1,000 to $5,000) sit on top of the automatic award.
Scholarship Application Awards
Yes
Donor, alumni and department money combines with merit up to the cost of attendance.
Band Nonresident Waiver
Ask first
It hits the same nonresident fees as WUE or Summit. Ask the band office how the two combine before you count both.
Pell and Idaho State Aid
Yes
If total aid tops the cost of attendance, Boise State trims loans first and only then cuts scholarships.
The one competitive award built specifically for incoming freshmen is the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, worth up to $5,000 a year for four years. If anyone in your family went to Boise State (or Boise State College or Boise Junior College), it’s worth the essay.
App Required
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 25 ✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Requires a parent, grandparent or guardian who attended Boise State
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Boise State lets institutional scholarships combine up to cost of attendance, so this can sit on top of a resident or nonresident automatic award.
📄
How to Apply
After admission, complete the Boise State Scholarship Application, answer the Alumni Legacy questions about your relative, and upload a resume (Honors template) plus a 500-word essay on how you have used Blue Turf Thinking. Make sure Admissions has your official transcript by February 15.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $5,000 a year toward tuition for incoming freshmen with a relative who graduated from, or completed at least 25 credits at, Boise State (including Boise State College and Boise Junior College). Preference when the relative is a parent, grandparent, step-parent or legal guardian, and when they are a Lifetime Alumni Association member. Renews up to three more years with full-time enrollment, a 3.25 GPA, membership in a recognized campus club and attendance at alumni events. The 2026 deadline was February 25.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Legacy students with a 3.5 or higher unweighted GPA and a detailed activities resume whose alumni relative belongs to the Boise State Alumni Association. Competitive: qualifying does not guarantee an award.
Data last verified Oct 8, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does Boise State offer full-ride scholarships to freshmen?
Not through a published freshman competition. The closest thing to full tuition is the Honors College’s renewable awards for continuing Honors students, and the Native American Scholarship for members of Idaho’s five tribes.
Who qualifies for the Alumni Legacy Scholarship?
Incoming freshmen with a 3.5 or higher unweighted GPA whose relative graduated from or completed at least 25 credits at Boise State. Preference goes to applicants whose relative is a parent, grandparent, step-parent or guardian and is a Lifetime Alumni Association member. It renews with a 3.25 GPA, club membership and attendance at alumni events.
When are competitive scholarships due?
Most awards in the Boise State Scholarship Application close February 15, though a few alumni and department awards ran to February 25 in 2026. The application opens in mid-November.
How do we find out if we won?
Through BroncoMail. All Scholarship Application awards are made by May 1, and your student must accept within 30 days or the money may go to someone else.
Does Boise State offer a National Merit scholarship?
We couldn’t find a Boise State-sponsored National Merit award. National Merit money from the corporation itself still counts as outside aid.
How can my student improve their odds?
Complete the General Application early, keep the declared major current (departments pull lists by major), and treat the resume seriously. Boise State asks for hours per week and length of involvement, so details matter more than a long list. Our Brag Sheet Builder and Essay Toolkit can help.
The admission application only gets your student the automatic award. Everything else on this page runs through the
Boise State Scholarship Application and the FAFSA.
Get the admission application and transcript in by the merit deadline.
File the FAFSA by February 15. Many awards look at need even when they don’t say so.
Once it opens in mid-November, finish the General Application. Your student gets automatically matched to awards they qualify for.
Check the “Recommended” list for awards that need extra questions, essays or uploads.
Declare a major. Departments get their award lists from it.
Parent translation: two hours on the Scholarship Application in December is the best-paying homework your student will do all year.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t advertised next to the automatic awards, but they’re real Boise State money. Some are tied to a talent, a background or a single event, and a few are built for adults coming back to finish a degree.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Native American Scholarship (Idaho Tribes)
📅 Deadline: With admission application ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Enrolled tribal members only
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Boise State says recipients stay eligible for its other scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
New students apply during the admission application and upload a copy of their Tribal Enrollment Card. Approval must be in place by the 10th day of the semester, and there is no need to reapply each term. Nonresident tribal members apply through the Boise State Scholarship Application.
💡
Strategic Detail
Members of Idaho's five federally recognized tribes (Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute) pay $0 per credit in tuition; other institutional, program and class fees still apply. Part-time or full-time, undergraduate or graduate. Alternative-fee programs are excluded. A separate nonresident version pays up to $431 per credit for up to ten members per semester of the Burns Paiute, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone, and Shoshone-Paiute (Nevada) tribes; its 2026 deadline was February 25.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Enrolled members of Idaho's five tribes, and for the nonresident version, members of the four Boise Valley tribes in Oregon and Nevada.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Blue Thunder Marching Band
📅 Deadline: Late Feb (audition) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Boise State lets institutional awards combine up to cost of attendance. A band nonresident waiver and an automatic nonresident award both apply to nonresident fees, so ask how they combine before counting both.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission, complete the Boise State Scholarship Application and the FAFSA, then submit the Blue Thunder audition request (live if within 100 miles of campus, video if farther). Audition early, since awards start going out in late February.
💡
Strategic Detail
Open to all majors. Out-of-state students can earn nonresident fee waivers through a successful audition, and the band also awards donor scholarships based on audition skill level. For the 2026 cycle the band strongly suggested distance auditions be in by February 27, when awards started going out. Confirm renewal terms in your award letter or with thunder@boisestate.edu.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Musicians and color guard members of any major who audition well. Students living more than 100 miles from campus can send a video audition.
App Required
Mosaic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mid-Feb (essay after event) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Must attend Boise State's Mosaic event as a senior
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with automatic awards and Pell up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Register for Mosaic on the Boise State admissions events page, attend, apply for admission, and submit the essay by the posted deadline. The prompt is handed out at the event.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One-year scholarship for high school seniors who attend Boise State's Mosaic event, held on a Saturday in early February (February 7 in 2026). To attend, seniors must be first-generation, have financial need, or attend a high school with AVID, GEAR UP Idaho or TRIO. To compete, students need a 3.0 or higher unweighted GPA, must apply for admission, and must turn in the scholarship essay (the 2026 deadline was February 17).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-generation and lower-income seniors with at least a 3.0 who show up in person and write the essay. The applicant pool is far smaller than for general scholarships.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Aziz F. Hasnain Scholarship for Underprivileged Students
📅 Deadline: Feb 25 Non-Renewable
$8,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Arts, humanities and social science majors with financial need
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Boise State lets institutional scholarships combine up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, complete the Boise State Scholarship Application, and upload an essay of up to two pages about the obstacles you are overcoming. Keep your name out of the essay body. The 2026 deadline was February 25.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $8,000. Eligible majors: Music; Art, Design and Visual Studies; Theatre, Film and Creative Writing; Anthropology; Communication and Media; English; History; Philosophy; Sociology; Psychology; World Languages; plus Interdisciplinary or Multidisciplinary Studies focused on the arts, humanities or social sciences. Preference to first-generation students. The same essay also applies to the Nahid S. Hasnain and Geraldine R. Cree scholarships. The listing does not say it renews, so plan to reapply each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation, full-time students with financial need in an eligible major who can write honestly about the obstacles they are working through.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Bronco Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 25 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ GPA must be 3.5 or below
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Boise State Scholarship Application, agree to the alumni event requirement, and upload the three-part essay as one Word or PDF file.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Created by Boise State alumni for students who may not qualify for other scholarships. Requires a GPA no higher than 3.5, full-time enrollment, and attending one Alumni Association Board meeting and other key alumni events each year. The 2026 essay asked why the student needs support, about a person, place or tradition at Boise State that matters to them, and how the award helps their goals. The 2026 deadline was February 25.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid B-range students who miss the bigger merit cutoffs and can explain clearly why the money matters.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Osher Reentry Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Jun 1 Non-Renewable
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For returning adults with five total years away from college
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Pell, Idaho state aid and other Boise State awards up to cost of attendance. Students can apply for Crankstart too.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted as a degree-seeking undergraduate, file the FAFSA, then complete the Boise State Scholarship Application and answer the Osher Reentry supplemental questions by June 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $5,000 a year for full-time students and $2,500 for part-time students. Requires a 3.0 cumulative college GPA, a first bachelor's degree, financial need, and plans to work for a significant period after graduating. Face-to-face or online classes both count.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Returning adults, typically 25 to 50, whose college studies were interrupted for five years total (not necessarily in a row): parents, working adults and career changers finishing a first bachelor's degree.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Crankstart Reentry Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Jun 1 Non-Renewable
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For returning adults with five total years away from college
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Pell and other aid up to cost of attendance. Apply for Osher too; the two are reviewed separately.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted as a degree-seeking undergraduate, file the FAFSA, then complete the Boise State Scholarship Application and answer the Crankstart Reentry supplemental questions by June 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $5,000 a year for full-time or part-time students. Requires mostly face-to-face classes and financial need. Not renewable, but recipients can reapply each year. Preference goes to entering students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Returning adults, typically 25 to 50, with five total years away from college who plan to take most classes in person.
Data last verified Oct 9, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Can my student be in the marching band without being a music major?
Yes. Blue Thunder is open to every major, and the audition doubles as the scholarship audition. Out-of-state students can also earn nonresident fee waivers through the band, which makes it one of the best-kept secrets for western families who just miss WUE.
What is Mosaic?
A Saturday morning event on campus each February for high school seniors who are first-generation, have financial need, or attend an AVID, GEAR UP Idaho or TRIO school. Seniors who attend and have a 3.0 GPA can submit an essay for a one-year scholarship. Fewer students compete for it than for almost anything else on this page.
Who gets the Native American Scholarship?
Members of the Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute tribes pay $0 per credit in tuition. Students apply with their admission application and upload a tribal enrollment card. They don’t reapply each semester, and they can still receive other Boise State scholarships.
Is there help for students who don’t hit the big GPA cutoffs?
Yes. The Bronco Family Scholarship was set up by alumni for students with a GPA of 3.5 or lower, and the Aziz F. Hasnain Scholarship (up to $8,000) is for arts, humanities and social science majors with financial need.
We’re a returning adult, not a high school senior. Anything for us?
The Osher and Crankstart Reentry Scholarships, each up to $5,000, are for students typically 25 to 50 with five total years away from college. Both close June 1 and require financial need.
What if my student isn’t eligible for the FAFSA?
Boise State says those students can still be considered for need-based scholarships. Complete the Scholarship Application, then email the Federal Student Aid Estimator results to scholarships@boisestate.edu with the student ID number.
The Boise State Honors College is a smaller community inside a big university, with its own scholarships, advising and residence hall. Admission is not automatic. Students apply separately, and the Honors application is only reviewed after Boise State admits them.
Recommended GPA: 3.5+ unweighted (not a hard cutoff either way)
What they read: academic record, a detailed four-year resume, and a one-paragraph essay of up to 300 words
Application window: August 1 to May 1, with decisions about 3 to 4 weeks after a complete application
Honors College Scholarships
App Required
Honors Nonresident Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 · 📢 Results: Late March Non-Renewable
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with your nonresident automatic award (Ridgeline, Summit or WUE), Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the Honors College by December 15 (from the Boise State application or the admissions status page) with the resume and essay, then complete a Boise State Scholarship Application profile. The Honors essay must be written without AI. Decisions usually go out in late March.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One-year award. Incoming Honors scholarships typically run $1,000 to $5,000. The Honors College must receive the Honors application by December 15. Nonresidents who apply later can still compete for general Honors scholarships if they apply by February 15.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Out-of-state Honors admits who apply by December 15. The typical incoming Honors scholarship recipient has a 3.85 or higher unweighted GPA, a detailed resume showing depth or breadth, and a careful, proofread essay.
App Required
Honors College General Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 · 📢 Results: Late March Non-Renewable
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Approximately 90 Honors scholarships awarded per year (incoming and continuing combined) winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with any resident or nonresident automatic award, Pell and departmental awards up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the Honors College by February 15. Admitted Honors students are reviewed for these automatically, but only after completing a Boise State Scholarship Application profile. Decisions usually arrive in late March.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One-year awards, typically $1,000 to $5,000. The Honors College gives about 90 scholarships a year across incoming and continuing students. Some also weigh financial need, so filing the FAFSA helps.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted Honors students near the recipient profile: a 3.85 or higher unweighted GPA, a resume with real depth or breadth (paid work and family responsibilities count), and a well-organized, proofread essay.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Honors Continuing Student Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Feb 15 · 📢 Results: April ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ High‑value merit scholarship for top freshmen that significantly reduces but does not guarantee full coverage of Boise State tuition.
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with automatic awards and need-based aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Keep your Boise State Scholarship Application profile current, then complete the Honors College Scholarship Application form emailed to BroncoMail in mid-January. Attach a resume and a 100 to 150 word answer about how a scholarship would change your weekly commitments. Due February 15; decisions in April.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Range from one-year $1,000 awards to renewable awards up to full in-state tuition (the amount follows each year's in-state tuition). The Honors College reserves many of its scholarships for students who have been in Honors at least a year. Not open to incoming freshmen.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with at least a year in the program who pair strong grades with real engagement: the Honors community, campus or community groups, leadership, research, volunteering, or significant work hours, especially students supporting themselves or family.
Data last verified Oct 9, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The Honors College awards about 90 scholarships a year. Amounts and criteria change from year to year based on funding.
Honors Scholarship Deadlines:
December 15: out-of-state students must apply to Honors by this date for the Honors Nonresident Scholarship.
February 15: all Honors scholarships, and the priority date for Honors admission.
April 1: priority date for Honors housing in Sawtooth Hall (the Honors application must be in by February 15 too).
Heads up on the essay: Boise State’s Honors College requires the essay to be written in the student’s own words without AI, and says breaking that rule can affect admission. The 2026-27 prompt asks students to defend the worth of something they know a lot about that has no obvious practical value.
Honors College FAQs (Boise State)
Is a 3.5 GPA required for Honors?
It’s recommended, not required. Boise State says a 3.5 doesn’t guarantee admission and a lower GPA doesn’t rule a student out. Students can add an optional 300-word context statement explaining circumstances behind their grades.
Do Honors scholarships renew?
Incoming Honors awards are usually one-year, $1,000 to $5,000. The bigger, renewable money (up to full in-state tuition) goes to students who have been active in Honors for at least a year.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
For incoming students, no. Admitted Honors students are reviewed automatically, but only after completing a Boise State Scholarship Application profile. Continuing students fill out an Honors form that arrives by email in mid-January.
When do Honors scholarship decisions come out?
Usually late March for incoming students and April for continuing students.
What if my student is denied Honors admission?
They can appeal through the link in the denial email within 10 days. Boise State responds within about three weeks.
Does Honors money stack with WUE or Presidential?
Yes. Honors scholarships combine with the automatic award and need-based aid up to the cost of attendance.
Boise State is Idaho’s largest university and a doctoral research university (Carnegie R2) sitting right in the state capital. That location shapes a lot of what it does well: students intern with state government, the region’s tech and health care employers, and a downtown that’s a short bike ride from campus.
It’s a career-focused school more than a prestige brand, and its strongest programs follow the jobs in the Treasure Valley.
Signature Strength: Health Sciences and Nursing
Nursing produces more bachelor’s degrees at Boise State than any other single program (386 in 2023-24), and Respiratory Care is one of its biggest majors too. Out-of-state nursing students should know the trade-off: Nursing is excluded from regular WUE, Ridgeline and Summit, so the only out-of-state merit path is WUE Nursing at a 3.90 GPA.
Business and Economics: Business is the largest area of study by degrees awarded, with strong pipelines in accounting, finance, marketing and supply chain.
Construction Management: one of Boise State’s best-known programs, with direct industry ties. It’s also on the list of majors excluded from out-of-state automatic merit, so plan accordingly.
Engineering and Materials Science: mechanical, civil and electrical engineering, plus a Materials Science and Engineering program tied closely to Micron, one of Boise’s largest employers.
Computing and Cybersecurity: computer science classes are taught partly in Boise State’s downtown City Center Plaza building, and the university has added a dedicated cybersecurity degree.
Education and Public Service: teacher preparation with deep ties to Idaho school districts, and a School of Public Service that uses the capital-city location for policy internships. Boise State is the only Idaho school with the Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose classification.
🔗 Official Boise State University Links
Use Boise State’s own pages below to confirm deadlines, scholarship rules and costs before your student applies. Award criteria can change every year, and these pages are where changes show up first.
Boise State is one of the most predictable scholarship schools in the West. There are no test scores to stress over and no mystery committee for the main awards: your student’s unweighted GPA and home state decide the automatic money, and you can look it up before they ever apply.
For families in a WUE state with a 3.50 or better, that means out-of-state tuition close to what many states charge their own residents. For Idaho families, it’s a solid in-state option where the FAFSA can matter as much as the transcript.
Where families lose money here is on the calendar and the fine print: missing December 15 out of state, picking a major that’s excluded from nonresident merit, or skipping the separate Scholarship Application that unlocks Honors, band, alumni and department awards. Boise State says 45% of its students graduate without any student loan debt. Getting the deadlines right is how you give your student a shot at being one of them.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the parent behind CollegeReadyParent. After working through college costs with his own daughter, he started building plain-English scholarship guides so other families don’t have to dig through university websites alone.
More about Leo →
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