Boise State University (BSU) is a public research university in Boise, Idaho, United States. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church, it became an independent junior college in 1934 and has been awarding baccalaureate and master's degrees It became a public institution in 1969.
Boise State offers more than 100 graduate programs, including a variety of MBA programs and the MAcc program in the College of Business and Economics; master's and PhD programs in the Colleges of Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Education; MPA program in the School of Public Service; and the MPH program in the College of Health Sciences. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". In the 2024 fiscal year, Boise State reported total research awards exceeding $83 million and research expenditures over $70 million.
The university's intercollegiate athletic teams, the Broncos, compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Pac-12 Conference.
History The school became Idaho's third state university in 1974, after the University of Idaho (1889) and Idaho State University (1963). Boise State awards associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The current number of living graduates (alumni) is over 102,000. YearEvent1892St. Margaret's School was founded in Christ Chapel (Boise, Idaho), a forerunner to Boise Junior College1932BSU was founded as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church at St. Margaret's Hall1933First season of football1934Episcopal Church ends its affiliation and board of directors after assumes leadership.1940Campus is moved to present site on the south bank of the Boise River Formerly the site of the Boise Airport – (photo – 1930s) – (photo – 1940s)
Administration Building opens, built by WPA – (photo – 1940s) College Field (1940–49), the first football stadium, opens at site of present Student Union Building – (photo 1) – (photo 2)1942Old Student Union opens – (photo – 1940s) – (photo – 1950s)1947After a year as an assistant, Lyle Smith is elevated to head coach of the football team.
overall record of 156-26-8 (.848) with five undefeated seasons, 16 conference titles, and a national JC championship (1958); steps down after 1967 season to become athletic director1950First Bronco Stadium (1950–69), on present site – replaced in 19701951Completion of first dormitories: Driscoll Hall (men) and Morrison Hall (women)1955Bronco Gymnasium constructed – (photo)1958Football team wins NJCAA national championship1964Library opens – (photo)1965Baccalaureate degrees introduced; becomes Boise College Alumni Association is formed, enrollment reaches 5,0001966Liberal Arts Building constructed – (photo 1) – (photo 2)1967New Student Union Building constructed – (photo)
Chaffee Hall dormitories constructed – (photo) John Barnes becomes the college's third president1968Football team begins competition as a four-year school, competing as an independent in NAIA for two seasons
New athletic director Lyle Smith hires Tony Knap to replace himself as head football coach1969State system of higher education assumes control, becomes Boise State College Final football season in second Bronco Stadium (northwest–southeast alignment) – (photo – late 1960s) (photo – 1968)1970Construction of multiple buildings: Business, Vocational Education, and Towers dormitories
BSC joins the Big Sky Conference for men's athletics, moves to NCAA Division II ("College Division" until 1973) New Bronco Stadium opens September 11 (now a north–south alignment) – seating capacity of 14,500 and a green AstroTurf field – (photo – 1971)1971 Begins publishing the Western Writers Series, monographs focusing on authors of the American Frontier and American West expansion of Student Union Building (1967); Auxiliary Gymnasium completed1972Four-story addition to Library (1964) completed1974University status granted, becomes Boise State University on February 221975Bronco Stadium adds upper deck to east side: 20,000 capacity – (photo)
football team wins third consecutive Big Sky title1976Tony Knap departs for UNLV; UCLA assistant coach Jim Criner is named head football coach for 1976 season1977Barnes resigns after spring semester; Richard Bullington, vice president of academic affairs, serves as interim president1978 Science/Nursing building opens John Keiser becomes president on August 1 Big Sky (& BSU) moves up to the new Division I-AA1979 Seven-story Education building dedicated in January enrollment reaches 10,0001980construction of BSU Pavilion begins in February, (photo 1981) – displaces tennis courts and baseball field – (photo – 1971) (photo – late 1970s)
final baseball season (played at Borah Field), dropped as a varsity sport in June, due to Title IX football field at Bronco Stadium dedicated as "Lyle Smith Field" on November 8. football team wins the I-AA national championship on December 20 in Sacramento1981Lyle Smith retires after 35 years at BSU, last 13 as athletic director.
football team advances to I-AA semifinals1982BSU Pavilion (multi-purpose arena) opens in mid-May for commencement – (photo – mid 1980s)
tennis courts relocated to former baseball infield1983Jim Criner departs for Iowa State, defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich promoted to head football coach for 1983 season1984Velma V. Morrison Center for performing arts opens on April 71986Blue AstroTurf field installed at Bronco Stadium in summer, the first (and only) of its kind
football team posts first losing record since 1946, head coach Setencich resigns in November1987Washington assistant coach Skip Hall becomes head football coach1989Campus School acquired from the Boise School District in April1990football team reaches Division I-AA semifinals1991President John Keiser fired by state board of education on September 20.1992first doctoral degree approved: Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction
enrollment reaches 15,000; the state's largest1993Pokey Allen from Portland State becomes head football coach, following the resignation (Nov. 1992) of Skip Hall1994football team wins Big Sky title and reaches the I-AA national championship game1995final football season in Big Sky Conference and Division I-AA
BSU helped fund a grant for the Idaho-based film Not This Part of the World.1996athletic program moves to Big West Conference and NCAA Division I-A.
wrestling remains in the Pac-10, as an affiliate member. Head football coach Pokey Allen dies of cancer in late December bachelor's programs established in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering1997Bronco Stadium expansion in south corners increases seating capacity to 30,000
Houston Nutt from Murray State becomes head football coach College of Engineering is formally established1998Houston Nutt departs for Arkansas, Oregon assistant coach Dirk Koetter becomes head football coach for 1998 season1999football team wins its first Big West title and the Humanitarian Bowl against Louisville2000football team wins second Big West title and Humanitarian Bowl against UTEP2001athletics moves to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), wrestling remains in the Pac-10, as affiliate member
Dirk Koetter departs for Arizona State, assistant Dan Hawkins promoted to head football coach for 2001 season2002football team wins first WAC title and Humanitarian Bowl against Iowa State2003football team wins second WAC title and Fort Worth Bowl over host TCU2004enrollment reaches 18,456
BSU Pavilion renamed Taco Bell Arena in June ($4 million for 15 years) football team goes undefeated in regular season for the first time as a four-year school, wins its third straight WAC title and finishes 9th in the BCS rankings, but lost the Liberty Bowl in Memphis to Louisville in a match-up of the two best BCS non-AQ conference teams that year.2005football team wins fourth straight WAC title, but loses MPC Computers Bowl at home to Boston College.2006BSU wins the WAC Commissioner's Cup for the 2005–06 academic year.
Dan Hawkins departs for Colorado, assistant Chris Petersen promoted to head football coach for 2006 season senior Ben Cherrington (157 lb.) wins NCAA national championship in wrestling; Cherrington and Tyler Sherfey are named the 2006 Pac-10 Conference Wrestler of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. football team is undefeated for the second time in three years, wins fifth straight WAC title and earns first BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma in January 2007.2007football team wins the Fiesta Bowl in January in a thrilling overtime finish. BSU finished the 2006 season as the only undefeated team in the nation (after Ohio State lost to Florida in the national championship game), and placed #5 in the final AP poll, with one first place vote, BSU's highest ranking ever.
State of Idaho approves funding for a $35.9 million addition to Bronco Stadium. Expansion replaces the original press box (1970), adds luxury suites, club seats, and loge boxes in time for the 2008 season. The new capacity is 32,000. BSU sells the film rights of the 2006 season to Michael Hoffman and Iron Circle Pictures, who will produce a documentary and later a feature film based on the story of the football program. 2006 football team wins two ESPY Awards in the categories of "Best Game" (2007 Fiesta Bowl) and "Best Play" (Game-winning Statue of Liberty play). Fiesta Bowl MVP Jared Zabransky appears as the cover athlete of the popular EA Sports video game NCAA Football 08. junior Luke Shields is one of four male tennis players representing the U.S. at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Boise State celebrates its 75th anniversary and announces "Destination Distinction," a campaign to raise $175 million.2008Broncos join the "10-20-20" club (10 football wins, 20 men's basketball wins, 20 women's basketball wins) for the 2007–08 season, only the 20th school since 1980 to achieve the feat.
BSU announces NASA Teacher in Space Barbara Morgan will start her full-time position as a Distinguished Educator in Residence football team regained the WAC title and met TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, but lost 16–17.2009undefeated football team retained the WAC title and again played TCU in the postseason, in the Fiesta Bowl, and BSU won 17–10.
Campus The campus is located near downtown Boise, on the south bank of the Boise River, opposite Julia Davis Park. With more than 170 buildings, the campus is at an elevation of above sea level, bounded by Capitol Boulevard on the west and Broadway Avenue to the east. Through the 1930s, the site was the city's airport.
Albertsons Library
The university library is named for grocery pioneer Joe Albertson. It houses more than 650,000 books, over 130,000 periodicals, 107 public terminals for student use, and access to over 300 online databases.
Morrison Center The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts has 2,000 seats in its primary performance hall, and hosts a wide variety of fine arts performances, including the Broadway in Boise series, concerts and other events. The venue opened its doors in April 1984.
Computer Science Department
The computer science department moved away from the main campus to a new building in downtown Boise. The CS department occupies 53,549 gross square feet, the full second and third floors of the building. The university's CS program is now located in the same building as Clearwater Analytics and within short walking distance of about 20 more of Boise's top technology companies.
Micron Center for Materials Research