Metropolitan State University of Denver
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Denver, Colorado
Net price / year
$15,327
after grants & scholarships
higher than 64% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
99%
Graduation rate
31%
within 150% of normal time
lower than 81% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$60,186
4 years after graduating
higher than 56% of public 4-year colleges
Metropolitan State University of Denver at a glance
- What is the tuition at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,124 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $30,684 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- The average cost of attendance is $24,622 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- The average net price for in-state students is $15,327 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- About 99% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores had an SAT total of about 880–1130 and an ACT composite of 17–26 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
- 31% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver earn?
- The median graduate earns $60,186 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.1 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $12,481 a year on average, versus $23,822 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 99% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- 31% of students finish within 150% of normal time, lower than 81% of public 4-year colleges.
- One year into repayment, 14% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (8,960 borrowers).
Tuition and cost of attendance at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Average net price (in-state)
$15,327 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Metropolitan State University of Denver net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$61,308
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $12,481
- $30–48k $12,436
- $48–75k $14,927
- $75–110k $19,539
- $110k+ $23,822
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $24,622
- Tuition & fees$11,124
- Books & supplies$1,460
- Room & board$16,785
- Other expenses$6,232
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $11,124
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $30,684
Metropolitan State University of Denver acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Metropolitan State University of Denver
Graduation rate
31%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
66%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$228
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
3.1 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 4.5%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 32%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $30,445 · median $52,093 · 75th percentile $75,678
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 8,960 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 6%
- Making progress 8%
- Not making progress 11%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 59%
- Deferment 13%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
8,960 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $111,187 | 1 yr$73,8744 yrs$111,1875 yrs$111,694 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Above the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $100,358 | 1 yr$75,9664 yrs$100,3585 yrs$94,588 | U.S. median $84,599 U.S. middle half $63.6K–$107.4K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $98,267 | 1 yr$72,3344 yrs$98,2675 yrs$89,786 | U.S. median $82,073 U.S. middle half $66.8K–$98.6K · Above the U.S. median | $27,307 |
| Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 115 | $91,399 | 1 yr$59,4514 yrs$91,3995 yrs$89,021 | U.S. median $83,290 U.S. middle half $58.8K–$111.6K · Above the U.S. median | $23,075 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 168 | $86,259 | 1 yr$77,3334 yrs$86,2595 yrs$83,865 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $22,195 |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $86,131 | 1 yr$54,6774 yrs$86,1315 yrs$74,438 | U.S. median $76,549 U.S. middle half $61.9K–$91.2K · Above the U.S. median | $28,247 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $80,907 | 4 yrs$80,9075 yrs$56,582 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $16,989 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $77,596 | 1 yr$54,5794 yrs$77,5965 yrs$83,846 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,437 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $76,759 | 1 yr$34,4174 yrs$76,7595 yrs$62,636 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $22,449 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 150 | $73,698 | 1 yr$54,0304 yrs$73,6985 yrs$72,474 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,087 |
Show all 49 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $72,846 | 1 yr$43,9224 yrs$72,8465 yrs$68,250 | U.S. median $85,825 U.S. middle half $61.7K–$118.2K · Below the U.S. median | $23,556 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $66,429 | 1 yr$44,8614 yrs$66,429 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 206 | $65,387 | 1 yr$53,0014 yrs$65,3875 yrs$69,862 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,975 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 64 | $65,179 | 1 yr$48,9974 yrs$65,1795 yrs$71,486 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | $24,270 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 91 | $64,069 | 1 yr$52,2164 yrs$64,0695 yrs$65,726 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 45 | $63,175 | 1 yr$44,2364 yrs$63,1755 yrs$55,583 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Above the U.S. median | $18,630 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 80 | $62,250 | 1 yr$46,4614 yrs$62,2505 yrs$63,893 | U.S. median $58,716 U.S. middle half $41.9K–$80.4K · Above the U.S. median | $18,399 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $61,654 | 1 yr$39,4504 yrs$61,6545 yrs$64,448 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $28,500 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 44 | $60,639 | 1 yr$39,9204 yrs$60,6395 yrs$56,951 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $21,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 98 | $60,395 | 1 yr$37,2134 yrs$60,3955 yrs$53,328 | U.S. median $60,053 U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Above the U.S. median | $19,800 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 150 | $59,502 | 1 yr$42,1964 yrs$59,5025 yrs$46,218 | U.S. median $55,693 U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,889 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 80 | $58,918 | 1 yr$39,5264 yrs$58,9185 yrs$56,872 | U.S. median $48,471 U.S. middle half $32.2K–$67.3K · Above the U.S. median | $17,813 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 175 | $57,920 | 1 yr$41,0184 yrs$57,9205 yrs$56,962 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $23,805 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $57,810 | 1 yr$42,8864 yrs$57,8105 yrs$52,362 | U.S. median $50,983 U.S. middle half $37.1K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 127 | $57,312 | 1 yr$38,3514 yrs$57,3125 yrs$52,594 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $16,858 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 114 | $57,096 | 1 yr$41,1614 yrs$57,0965 yrs$51,799 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $18,625 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $57,065 | 1 yr$45,7994 yrs$57,065 | U.S. median $65,466 U.S. middle half $44.9K–$88.4K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 184 | $56,564 | 1 yr$44,4974 yrs$56,5645 yrs$53,863 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $55,915 | 1 yr$44,0154 yrs$55,9155 yrs$53,547 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,917 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 68 | $54,896 | 1 yr$41,9384 yrs$54,8965 yrs$49,323 | U.S. median $48,597 U.S. middle half $35.2K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $21,084 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $53,125 | 1 yr$21,9304 yrs$53,1255 yrs$41,447 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median | $25,783 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $52,747 | 1 yr$34,9064 yrs$52,747 | U.S. median $51,710 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$68.1K · Above the U.S. median | $22,285 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $52,735 | — | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $52,414 | 1 yr$42,0224 yrs$52,4145 yrs$55,444 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $19,406 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 96 | $51,955 | 1 yr$35,4874 yrs$51,9555 yrs$44,413 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median | $24,854 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $51,786 | 1 yr$39,6384 yrs$51,7865 yrs$52,967 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $50,926 | 1 yr$29,8034 yrs$50,9265 yrs$49,196 | U.S. median $49,984 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$69.9K · Above the U.S. median | $24,867 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $50,478 | 1 yr$32,6014 yrs$50,478 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Below the U.S. median | $23,096 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 204 | $50,326 | 1 yr$37,7024 yrs$50,3265 yrs$46,755 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,356 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 54 | $49,025 | 1 yr$40,6814 yrs$49,025 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $23,528 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $48,655 | 1 yr$39,9554 yrs$48,6555 yrs$45,360 | U.S. median $55,695 U.S. middle half $38.1K–$76.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,511 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 72 | $48,518 | 1 yr$42,7854 yrs$48,5185 yrs$42,762 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $26,270 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $47,666 | 1 yr$41,9544 yrs$47,666 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | $26,832 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $47,460 | 1 yr$37,6444 yrs$47,4605 yrs$56,304 | U.S. median $56,278 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Below the U.S. median | $20,638 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $46,535 | 1 yr$26,6364 yrs$46,5355 yrs$48,554 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $15,876 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems Bachelor's · Graduates: 40 | $45,766 | 1 yr$33,3024 yrs$45,7665 yrs$30,727 | U.S. median $40,222 U.S. middle half $21K–$62.1K · Above the U.S. median | $20,698 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $42,870 | 1 yr$28,9014 yrs$42,8705 yrs$34,879 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $42,490 | 1 yr$26,1024 yrs$42,4905 yrs$43,850 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $25,600 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $38,957 | 1 yr$19,7974 yrs$38,9575 yrs$37,991 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $24,948 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 41.8%
- Black or African American 8.6%
- Hispanic or Latino 36.7%
- Asian 4.5%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 1%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
- Two or more races 5.5%
- U.S. nonresident 0.7%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 1.1%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 45.3%
- Women 54.8%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
29%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 15,002
- Part-time students
- 44%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 36%
- Receive federal loans
- 28%
- Students per faculty member
- 14 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Metropolitan State University of Denver reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $11,124 for in-state students and $30,684 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
The average cost of attendance at Metropolitan State University of Denver is $24,622 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $15,327 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Metropolitan State University of Denver get?
36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 28% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $12,481 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $23,822 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Metropolitan State University of Denver admitted about 99% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% had an SAT total of about 880–1130 and an ACT composite of 17–26 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
31% of first-time, full-time students at Metropolitan State University of Denver finish within 150% of normal time. 66% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $60,186 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $44,523.
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Metropolitan State University of Denver, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.1 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $21,500, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 31% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things