Housing and cost of living information for exchange students

Exchange students are eligible to live on-campus in Sophomore and Above housing. Housing is not guaranteed, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible to reserve your spot.

It is important to apply for housing as soon as you have been admitted to Boise State and have a student ID number. Housing on campus is limited so it is important to apply early. Apply for housing here! You will need to pay a $50 non-refundable application fee and a $100 down payment at the time of application (total $150).

If you prefer to live off-campus, you can find a list of nearby apartments on the Off-Campus Housing webpage.

Early Arrival

Because you will need to arrive several days before the campus housing officially opens, you will need to apply for early arrival. You can read more about early arrival requests here. You are responsible for applying for early arrival by directly working with the Housing and Residence Life department.

Meal Plans

It is not required that you purchase a meal plan if you live in any of these housing options. However, if you don’t like to cook, purchasing a meal plan can be a great option.
You can view the different meal plans here. Once you have applied for housing, you can purchase a residential meal plan. To do this, log into your MyHousing portal and click on the “Dining” tab to purchase a meal plan. There are also Voluntary Block Meal plans available for students who plan to eat on campus less frequently.

Cost of Living

The estimated expenses for a semester are listed below. The expenses can fluctuate, but these estimates can help you to prepare for your semester in Boise. Please note, exchange students are responsible for lab and professional fees charged by academic departments. These fees are not covered under the exchange.

Books: $600
Insurance: $1,000/semester (mandatory)
Room & Board: $6,920 (varies)
Transportation: $1,700 (buses are free with student ID)
Personal Expenses: $1,500