Boise State supports paying cost of attendance

Boise State’s president Bob Kustra has long been an outspoken critic of NCAA reform that would give the Power 5 conferences more influence and control over the organization.  But in a statement released Tuesday it appears some of that opposition might have fallen by the wayside.  Boise State announced it will provide cost of attendance to all athletes in order to remain nationally competitive with impending NCAA student-athlete reforms.  Those reforms are contingent, however, on the NCAA passing legislation proposed by the Power 5 conferences to fund the full cost of attending college.

While the majority of the Power 5 conferences have been pushing for cost-of-attendance stipends for players for some time, Kustra has been in the forefront opposing reform efforts that would increase the costs of an athletic scholarship by adding additional expenses to student scholarships.  But he has also been on record saying that he’ll have no choice but to match those scholarship enhancements if they pass.

Exactly how much higher the cost of attending college beyond an athletic scholarship would be would vary, but the NCAA average difference between an athletic scholarship and the full cost of attendance is around $3,500.

In addition to Boise State, the Mid American Conference is also in favor of full cost scholarships.  The vote by the NCAA will come in January.