Nonresident Applicants

As a current high school senior attending a regionally accredited high school you will be considered for admission according to your cumulative unweighted high school GPA. Test scores will not be used, and are not required, in the admission review process. Applicants not meeting the minimum GPA requirements may be asked to provide additional materials, and/or may be denied admission to Boise State.

If you have already graduated from a regionally accredited high school you will find your admission standards on the High School Graduates (Regionally Accredited) tab. If you have already graduated from a high school that is not regionally accredited you will find your admissions requirements on the Homeschool/Unaccredited High School tab.

The following admission standards are for the Spring 2023 semester and beyond. Please see Boise State’s 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog to view the Summer/Fall 2022 semester admission standards.

How to Apply

• • Application for admission
  • Nonrefundable Application Fee or approved App Fee Waiver
  • Official high school transcript

Unaccredited High School: Students who are currently attending, or who have attended, a non-regionally accredited high school are required to meet the admission requirements listed on the Homeschool/Unaccredited High School tab.

Nonresident Admission Standards for High School Students:

Boise State Admissions uses the cumulative, unweighted high school GPA when considering students for admission.

3.00 – 4.00 GPA: You meet Boise State’s automatic admission standards and will be admitted once all the above required items have been received and reviewed.

2.80 – 2.99 GPA: Highly considered for admission. No additional items needed at this time.

2.60 – 2.79 GPA: Your application will receive a more holistic review after you have submitted a high school 7th-semester transcript and a personal statement (see prompt below). You will receive an admission decision in early March, provided the following materials are received by Boise State Admissions by February 15. Holistic Review decisions are released three to four weeks after all items are received for Spring semester applicants.

• • • High school 7th-semester transcript: We need your high school transcript showing grades from the first semester (quarter) of your senior year.
    • Personal Statement Prompt: In 500 words or less, tell us about the goals you’ve set for yourself as a student at Boise State University. Please also let us know about any challenges you’ve overcome, either personally or academically, that may have impacted your academic performance.
    • Letters of Recommendation (Optional): If you do not meet automatic admission standards, you are encouraged to submit up to two letters of recommendation along with a personal statement and 7th semester transcript. We recommend you choose academic sources who can speak to your academic ability and motivation.

0.00 – 2.59 GPA: You do not qualify for admission to Boise State University. We encourage you to consider attending a community college or other institution and applying to Boise State for a future semester as a transfer student.

Please note: Students who do not attend regionally-accredited high schools are are required to meet the homeschool/unaccredited high school admissions requirements.

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As a high school graduate from a regionally accredited high school you will be considered for admission according to your cumulative unweighted high school GPA. Test scores are not required and will not be used in the admission review process. Applicants not meeting the automatic admission standards may be asked to provide additional materials, and/or may be denied admission to Boise State.

If you are a current high school senior attending a regionally accredited high school you will find your admission standards on the High School Seniors (Regionally Accredited) tab. If you are currently attending a high school that is not regionally accredited, please go to the Homeschool/Unaccredited High School tab.

The following admission standards are for the Spring 2023 semester and beyond. Please see Boise State’s 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog to view the Summer/Fall 2022 semester admission standards.

How to Apply

• • Application for admission
  • Nonrefundable Application Fee or approved App Fee Waiver
  • Official high school transcript
  • Official college transcripts from each college attended after high school (if applicable).

Unaccredited High School: Students who have attended, or are currently attending, a non-regionally accredited high school are required to meet the admission requirements listed on the Homeschool/Unaccredited High School tab.

Admission Standards for High School Graduates:

The following GPA requirements represent a high school unweighted cumulative GPA.

3.00 – 4.00 GPA: You meet Boise State’s admission standards and will be admitted once all the above required items have been received and reviewed.

2.80 – 2.99 GPA: Highly considered for admission. No additional items needed at this time.

2.00 – 2.79 GPA: Your application will receive a more holistic review after you have submitted a personal statement using the following prompt.

• • • Personal Statement Prompt: In 500 words or less, tell us about the goals you’ve set for yourself as a student at Boise State University. Please also let us know about what you have been up to since high school (accomplishments, jobs, schooling, etc.) and any challenges you’ve overcome, either personally or academically, that may have impacted your previous academic performance.
    • Letters of Recommendation (Optional): If you do not meet automatic admission standards, you are encouraged to submit up to two letters of recommendation along with a personal statement and 7th semester transcript. We recommend you choose academic sources who can speak to your academic ability and motivation.

0.00 – 1.99 GPA: You do not qualify for admission to Boise State University. We encourage you to consider attending a community college or other institution and applying to Boise State for a future semester as a transfer student.

Please note: Students who do not attend regionally-accredited high schools are are required to meet the homeschool/unaccredited high school admissions requirements.

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The following admission standards are for students applying to a semester that starts in 2022 (e.g. Spring, Summer, Fall 2022). If you are a Fall 2021 applicant please reference Chapter 3 of the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog for the admission requirements applicable to you.

GED and HiSET recipients who meet Boise State’s admission standards (see below) will be automatically admitted upon the submission of their application, official GED or HiSET scores, and official college transcripts (if applicable). Applicants who do not meet the listed admission standards will be considered for admission based on a holistic review using additional information to assess your academic preparation for college-level coursework and your potential for success at Boise State University. See Holistic Review section below for details. High school equivalency exams from individual states are not accepted for admission purposes.

How to Apply

• • Application for admission
  • Nonrefundable Application Fee or approved App Fee Waiver
  • GED official transcript or official HiSET certificate
  • Official transcripts from any colleges or universities attended
  • Holistic review only: personal statement (see below)
  • Holistic review only: Two letters of recommendation (see below)

GED/HiSET Admission Standards

GED Recipients: If you have completed your GED after 2014, and scored a 160 or higher on each section of the exam you will be automatically admitted to Boise State upon the submission of your application, official GED scores, and college transcripts from each institution you have attended (if applicable).

HiSET Recipients: If you have earned a HiSET and scored a 15 or higher one each one of the subtests you will be automatically admitted to Boise State upon the submission of your application, official HiSET scores, and college transcripts from each institution you have attended (if applicable).

GED and HiSET Holistic Review

If one of your section scores does not meet this requirement or if you earned your GED prior to 2014, the following additional items will be required before making an admission decision:

• • Personal Statement (please use the below prompt)
  • Two letters of recommendation

Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, tell us about the goals you’ve set yourself as a student at Boise State University. Please also let us know about any challenges you’ve overcome, either personally or academically, that may have impacted your academic performance.

Please do not submit more than two letters of recommendation; we recommend you choose academic sources who can speak to your academic ability and motivation.

Scholarship Consideration

Students who have earned a GED will be reviewed holistically by the Scholarship Committee for scholarship consideration.

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Homeschool students and students attending a high school that is not regionally accredited will be considered for admission based on a holistic review of the below required materials. The holistic review will assess your academic preparation for college-level coursework and your potential for success at Boise State University.

How to Apply

• • Application for admission
  • Nonrefundable Application Fee or approved App Fee Waiver
  • Homeschool or unaccredited high school transcript.
  • Official ACT or SAT test scores (if under 21)
  • Official transcripts from each regionally accredited high school attended (if applicable).
  • Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, tell us about the goals you’ve set for yourself as a student at Boise State University. Please also let us know about any challenges you’ve overcome, either personally or academically, that may have impacted your academic performance.
  • Two letters of recommendation: Please do not submit more than two letters of recommendation; we recommend you choose academic sources who can speak to your academic ability and motivation.

Scholarships for Homeschooled Students

Unweighted high school GPA is used for all incoming applicants from regionally accredited high schools for both Boise State admission and scholarship awards. Students with a homeschool curriculum will be reviewed holistically by the Scholarship Committee. All required admission and scholarship materials for new students must be received by Boise State Admissions by the December 15 Nonresident Application and Scholarship Priority Deadline. Scholarship award notifications will arrive within three weeks of a student’s admission to Boise State University.

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