Boise State University facts for kids
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Former names
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St. Margarets School (1892–1932) Boise Junior College (1932–1965) Boise College (1965–1969) Boise State College (1969–1974) |
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| Motto | Splendor sine Occasu (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Splendour Without Diminishment" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | September 6, 1932 |
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Parent institution
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Idaho State Board of Education |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $143 million (2023) |
| Budget | $781 million (2024) |
| President | Marlene Tromp |
| Provost | John Buckwalter |
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Academic staff
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757 (Fall 2018) |
| Students | 26,727 (Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 27,250 (Fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 3,184 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
43°36′14″N 116°12′14″W / 43.604°N 116.204°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 285 acres (1.15 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Arbiter |
| Colors | Blue and orange |
| Nickname | Broncos |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Buster Bronco |
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Boise State University (BSU) is a large public university in Boise, Idaho, United States. It was started in 1932 by a church. In 1934, it became an independent junior college. The university began giving out bachelor's and master's degrees in 1965. It became a public university in 1969.
Boise State offers many different study programs. These include over 100 graduate programs. Students can earn master's and PhD degrees in various subjects. The university is known for its research. In 2022, it received about $48 million for research projects.
The university's sports teams are called the Broncos. They compete in NCAA Division I. They are part of the Mountain West Conference.
Contents
University History and Growth
Boise State became Idaho's third state university in 1974. The other two are the University of Idaho (started 1889) and Idaho State University (started 1963). Boise State offers different types of degrees. These include associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university is approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. As of 2010, over 75,000 people have graduated from Boise State.
Exploring the Campus
The campus covers about 285 acres (1.15 square kilometers). It is located near downtown Boise. The campus sits on the south bank of the Boise River. It is across from Julia Davis Park. There are more than 170 buildings on campus. The campus is about 2,700 feet (823 meters) above sea level. In the 1930s, this area was the city's airport.
Albertsons Library
The university's library is named after Joe Albertson. He was a famous grocery store founder. The library has over 650,000 books. It also has more than 130,000 magazines and journals. Students can use 107 public computers. They can also access over 300 online databases.
Morrison Center for Arts
The "Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts" is a large theater. It has 2,000 seats in its main hall. The center hosts many different art shows. These include Broadway plays, concerts, and other events. The Morrison Center first opened in April 1984.
Computer Science Department Location
The computer science department moved to a new building. This building is located in downtown Boise. The department takes up two full floors of the building. It is close to many technology companies in Boise. This helps students connect with future job opportunities.
Micron Center for Research
The Micron Center for Materials Research was built with a $25 million gift. This gift came from Micron Technology. Micron Technology is a company based in Boise. The building was finished in 2020. It has a special wing for sensitive research equipment. It also has modern research labs. Another wing holds classrooms and offices. Micron Technology has given a total of $40 million to Boise State. This money supports programs in materials science and engineering. Students can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in these fields.
Other Campus Locations
Boise State offers programs in other places too. These include locations in Nampa, Mountain Home Air Force Base, and Twin Falls. They also have programs in Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene. Boise State also offers 29 degrees and certificates completely online. Since 2016, Boise State has worked with Harvard Business School. They offer a business fundamentals program to students in Idaho. This is the only partnership of its kind with a public U.S. university.
Academics and University Structure
Boise State has over 190 areas of study. These are organized into different colleges:
- Arts and Sciences
- Business and Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- Graduate Studies
- Health Sciences
- School of Public Service
- Innovation and Design
In fall 2016, Boise State had 23,886 students. About 76 percent of these students were from Idaho. More than 90 percent of new students come directly from high school.
In the 2015–16 school year, Boise State gave out 3,916 diplomas. This included 18 doctorates and 670 master's degrees. They also awarded 2,998 bachelor's degrees. The university is known for its high research activity.
University Publications
Since 1971, the university has published the Western Writers Series. These books focus on authors from the American West. The university also has an online library. This library contains publications about Idaho history.
The Center for Idaho History and Politics offers a special field school. It is called "Investigate Boise." This program focuses on history, government, and city life. Students in this program write and publish their own work.
Sports and Athletics
Boise State's sports teams are called the Broncos. Their official mascot is Buster Bronco. Men's teams include football, basketball, and golf. Women's teams include volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. Most of these teams play in the Mountain West Conference (MWC).
Boise State College joined the NCAA in 1970. Their football team moved up to Division I-A in 1996. They joined the Mountain West Conference in 2011. The Broncos are planning to join the PAC-12 Conference in 2026.
Albertsons Stadium
Albertsons Stadium is where the Boise State football team plays. It has hosted major track and field championships. It has also been home to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl since 1997.
Boise State Football has a long history of success. The field is named Lyle Smith Field in Albertsons Stadium. It was once green, but in 1986, it became blue. This "Blue Turf" was the first non-green football field in the country. It is also called "The Smurf Turf." Through 2019, Boise State had a very strong home record. They won 189 games and lost only 39 on the Blue Turf. They also won fifteen conference championships.
Construction on the stadium began in 1969. It opened in September 1970 with 14,500 seats. Later expansions in 1975 and 1997 increased the capacity. Today, it can hold about 37,000 fans.
ExtraMile Arena
ExtraMile Arena is home to Boise State basketball and other sports. It also hosts community events and concerts. It opened in May 1982 and can seat 12,380 people. The arena has hosted rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament nine times. It also hosted rounds of the NCAA women's tournament in 2002.
Construction of the arena started in February 1980. It was built where the tennis courts and part of the baseball field used to be. The tennis courts were rebuilt nearby.
Student Life at BSU
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 71% |
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| Hispanic | 14% |
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| Other | 8% |
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| Asian | 3% |
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| Black | 2% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 24% |
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| Affluent | 76% |
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In the 2023-24 school year, Boise State had 26,727 students. About 69 percent of these students were from Idaho. Boise State University has the largest number of graduate students in Idaho. Most new students (over 90 percent) come directly from high school.
Student Housing
About 18% of Boise State students live in housing owned or managed by the university. The other 82% of students live off campus.
Student Groups and Sororities
Boise State has a growing number of Greek organizations. As of fall 2023, there are 8 sororities and 11 fraternities on campus.
University Rankings
| USNWR National University | 296 |
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Famous Alumni
Many notable people have graduated from Boise State University.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Boise para niños
