Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, Colorado. 15,002 undergraduates. Admits 99% of applicants.

31%Graduation rate23 pts below the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,803Average net price per year31% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$57,612Median earnings 10 years after startingAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$21,550Median debt at graduationAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($21,550) equals 37% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($57,612).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$10,475
$30,000–$48,000$10,862
$48,001–$75,000$12,961
$75,001–$110,000$17,896
Over $110,000$22,551

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $11,540 in-state, $31,784 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate31%54%
Return for second year63%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$52,371$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$57,612$58,912
Median debt at graduation$21,550$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

105 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science94$78,903$116,296$29,251
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians11$84,200$101,303—
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians32$73,430$96,493$26,640
Management Information Systems and Services52$70,172$96,472$27,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing84$81,813$88,891$28,310
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians15$64,859$85,313—
Finance and Financial Management Services51$58,080$82,481$18,500
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management43$77,133—$22,250
Accounting and Related Services100$64,931$77,035$27,625
Construction Management31$75,656—$17,094
Air Transportation90$58,830$73,663$22,245
Business Administration, Management and Operations132$54,969$73,097$24,726
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy1—$72,927—
Economics9$55,556$72,197—
Mathematics23$54,422$71,586$33,398
Marketing63$53,440$70,523$25,000
Chemistry12$48,530$70,133—
Fire Protection10$67,767——
Biology, General135$46,277$64,174$26,140
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions0—$61,399—
Design and Applied Arts38$44,916$60,564$19,250
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication12$45,977$60,469—
Social Work86$48,491$60,240$25,750
Hospitality Administration/Management31$54,304$60,194$19,198
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies48$49,666$60,054$21,906
Nutrition Sciences35$38,178$59,896$22,946
Criminal Justice and Corrections130$50,253$58,787$23,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services34$40,858$58,536$18,954
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology6—$58,065—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research29$45,077$58,026$32,460
Sociology15—$58,003$27,150
Human Services, General20$46,041$55,983$31,750
Health and Medical Administrative Services44$53,530$55,644$25,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness88$46,688$54,501$20,225
Journalism15$38,795$54,313$22,500
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies2—$54,169—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other59$46,136$53,855$31,540
History63$45,332$53,799$23,500
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies15$40,882$52,683—
Psychology, General—$45,609$51,948—
Political Science and Government39$41,891$51,655$22,750
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems28$33,605$49,890$24,317
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas41$49,675—$26,000
Research and Experimental Psychology280$45,161$49,539$26,750
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services15$47,005$49,006—
Fine and Studio Arts44$34,479$49,001$23,347
English Language and Literature, General60$40,111$48,887$28,500
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations31$48,643—$25,032
Special Education and Teaching12$43,786$48,413—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods77$45,155$46,200$25,625
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft15—$44,265$20,937
Anthropology30$38,609$37,790$33,633
Music24$28,836—$28,875
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication8———
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other1———
Communications Technologies/Technicians21———
Computer Engineering6———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering13———
Systems Engineering2———
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians6———
Statistics5———
Philosophy7———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology5———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences9———
Physics7———
Geography and Cartography8———
Dance9———
Public Health3———
Medical Illustration and Informatics4———
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other11———
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods14———
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations5———
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations2———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

99%Admission rate
1,019Average SAT of admitted students
17–26ACT middle 50%
14:1Students per faculty member
40%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Metropolitan State University of Denver cost per year?
The average net price at Metropolitan State University of Denver, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,803 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates earn?
Former Metropolitan State University of Denver students earn a median of $57,612 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
31% of Metropolitan State University of Denver students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Metropolitan State University of Denver is $21,550. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.