Graduate programs may set one or more standard application deadlines appropriate for management of the program. Prospective students are, therefore, encouraged to consult the application procedures provided by the program. If the program is not specific about its application deadlines, then the Graduate College recommends submitting all application materials by the following priority dates:
- January 15 for summer and fall admission
- October 1 for spring admission
To apply for admission to a degree or certificate program, complete the following steps before the program deadline:
1. Submit an online application for admission to the Graduate College, along with the nonrefundable application fee.
2. Request official transcripts from each educational institution (excluding Boise State) attended beyond high school. Transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to the Graduate College and can be sent electronically, mailed or faxed directly using the following information:
- Mailing address:
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Graduate CollegeBoise State UniversityRiverfront Hall, Rm. 3071910 University Dr.Boise, ID83725-1110
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- Email address: gradcoll@boisestate.edu
- Phone number: (208) 426-3903 or (800) 824-7017 #7
3. Complete any standardized exams required by the graduate program. Check the list of graduate programs available on the Graduate College website to see if a specific program requires exams. Make sure the exam results are forwarded to the Graduate College. The institutional code for Boise State University for all exams administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) is 4018.
4. Submit all required letters of recommendation and other materials required by the graduate program.
Review of an application cannot begin until each of these steps is completed and the Graduate College has received all materials, including materials that are specific to a particular graduate program. Applicants can monitor the status of their application using the “Admissions To Do’s” list found on myBoiseState.
Once these steps have been completed, an applicant is eligible for admission to the Graduate College but has not yet been admitted to a degree or certificate program. At this point, applicants may enroll in courses for which they are eligible, but are not permitted to work toward a graduate degree or certificate and are not eligible for federal financial aid.
If you are enrolled in and complete graduate credits at Boise State University that are counted towards a degree or certificate program and later apply and are admitted into a different graduate degree or certificate program, the program may recommend to the Graduate College that some of those credits be applied to the requirements of the new degree or certificate program. The application of previously-completed graduate credit to a degree or certificate program is subject to the Restrictions on Certain Courses rules, and any time interval restrictions established under the Duration of Graduate Study policies for degree or certificate programs. The graduate degree or certificate program may define a maximum number of these credits and all final decisions regarding the applicability of these credits rest with the Graduate Dean.
Once all application materials have been received, the application is reviewed by the graduate program. Once this review is complete, the program forwards an admission recommendation to the Graduate Dean using a Program Admission Recommendation (PAR) form. The Graduate Dean then makes the final determination and notifies the program and the student. Applicants are admitted in one of the following categories:
- Regular admission – This category is typically used when the undergraduate GPA is 3.00 or higher. In the event that an applicant’s undergraduate GPA is below 3.00 a program may still support a recommendation for regular admission if you have successfully completed a significant number of graduate credits, or a graduate degree, with a graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. Regular admission indicates full graduate standing in an academic program with no special stipulations.
- Conditional admission – This category is used when a student has not yet completed the undergraduate degree or the Graduate College has not yet received a final undergraduate transcript with the undergraduate degree posted. The student’s status is changed to “regular” once the Graduate College has received verification of the undergraduate degree.
- Provisional admission – This category is typically used when the undergraduate GPA is below 3.00. In the event that an applicant’s undergraduate GPA is 3.00 or above a program may still support a recommendation for provisional admission using the applicant’s limited relevant undergraduate coursework, demonstrated writing or computational skills, or other factors to support the recommendation. Provisional admission establishes special stipulations such as a probationary period and/or other specific stipulations that must be satisfied by the student within a reasonable time. The student’s status is changed to “regular” once the specified stipulations have been met.
At this point, the applicant has been officially admitted to the graduate program. All degree-seeking students admitted as regular, conditional, and provisional are eligible for financial aid.