Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, Colorado · Public · 98.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 46/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Metropolitan State University of Denver scores 46 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The completion rate is 31.5%. Fewer than one in three enrolled students completes a degree within 150% of normal time. This structural completion problem shapes every other metric: the 11.8-year payback period and 0.657 repayment rate reflect a student body where a large fraction borrows money and does not finish. In-state tuition is $11,124 and net price is $15,327, making cost relatively modest. Average 6-year earnings are $36,100 for those who do graduate. Several programs perform well in isolation: Computer Science (82 graduates, $73,874 year-one, $111,187 year-four, B+ grade), Registered Nursing (86 graduates, $77,333 year-one, B grade), and Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies (18 graduates, $75,966 year-one, B+ grade). The challenge is that most of the 15,002 enrolled students are not in these high-performing tracks. Criminal Justice (153 graduates), Social Work (116 graduates), and many liberal arts programs carry C or D grades. The aggregate ROI reflects the population-weighted reality of who attends and what they study.
How Metropolitan State University of Denver scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate31.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,124/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,684/yr |
| Average net price | $15,327/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,308 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,093 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 31.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,002 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,124/year ($30,684/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,327/year, or roughly $61,308 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,481/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,822/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,100) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,481 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,436 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,927 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,539 |
| $110,001+ | $23,822 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $12,481 per year at MSU Denver. On a cost basis this is modest - but the 31.5% completion rate is the dominant risk factor. Low-income students who do not complete leave with debt and no credential, and the 0.657 repayment rate confirms this is a common outcome. Students in this bracket who are serious about completing should ask candidly about the institution's completion support programs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,927 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,539. For in-state students in CS or nursing, the economics work - low sticker price and strong program outcomes. For students in lower-earning majors, $15,000-$20,000 per year builds a debt load that $36,000 median earnings cannot easily service. Middle-income families should run major-specific numbers.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $23,822 per year. High-income families choosing MSU Denver for their student are likely doing so for program-specific reasons (Denver location, specific major) rather than selectivity. The ROI case holds for technical and health programs; for liberal arts and social sciences, the payback period stretches.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $48,655 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,564 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,387 | C+ |
| Biology | $57,920 | D |
| Social Work | $55,915 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,096 | C+ |
| Air Transportation | $72,846 | C |
| Accounting | $73,698 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $49,025 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $86,259 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is MSU Denver's strongest ROI program: 82 graduates, $73,874 year-one, $111,187 year-four, B+ grade with debt-to-earnings of 0.308 and $22,736 median debt. Denver's tech sector has expanded significantly with remote-work driven migration. This program's outcomes are a genuine bright spot.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (86 graduates) earns $77,333 year-one and $86,259 year-four (ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.389, median debt $30,119). Colorado nursing salaries are strong relative to the region. This is MSU Denver's highest-enrollment high-ROI program and, alongside CS, represents the clearest financial value proposition the institution offers.
Accounting
Accounting (97 graduates) earns $54,030 year-one and $73,698 year-four with a C+ grade and debt-to-earnings of 0.487 against $26,320 median debt. Denver's accounting labor market (including Big Four presence) supports progression beyond these starting figures for CPA-licensed graduates.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (134 graduates) is the largest program by reported graduate count and earns a C+ grade: $53,001 year-one, $65,387 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.487. Denver's job market and MSU Denver's business program ties to local employers produce workable starting salaries, though the 4-year ceiling of $65k is modest relative to debt service.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (153 graduates) earns a C grade: $44,497 year-one, $56,564 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.587 with $26,130 median debt. Denver's law enforcement and corrections employment base supports this outcome level. The C grade means the ROI is adequate but not strong relative to the debt incurred. Students considering this track should also evaluate the Law Enforcement degree's CU Denver counterpart.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Metropolitan State University of Denver’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 450-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-26 |
| Enrollment | 15,002 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,105 |
MSU Denver's 98.8% admission rate means it is effectively open-enrollment. The SAT and ACT ranges reflect the broad preparation spectrum of enrolled students, not admission requirements. The completion challenge here is structural: students who cannot maintain continuous enrollment - due to work, family, or financial constraints - are disproportionately represented. Prospective students should ask what support services and flexible scheduling options are available before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (this school) | 46 | $15,327 | $52,093 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 47 | $10,965 | $48,160 |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | 46 | $17,613 | $49,827 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 42 | $13,154 | $46,482 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Who Thrives Here
MSU Denver admits 98.8% of applicants, functioning as an open-access urban institution. SAT mid-ranges are 430-560 Math and 450-570 Reading; ACT composite 17-26. Enrollment is 15,002 - a large commuter institution in downtown Denver. Pell grant rate is 35.5%, reflecting significant financial need. MSU Denver serves a substantial population of first-generation students, adult learners, and career-changers. The commuter-heavy environment and broad access mission explain the low completion rate - many students enroll part-time or stop-out before finishing.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Metropolitan State University of Denver is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,327 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,093 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 31.5% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.7% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Metropolitan State University of Denver: Common Questions
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Metropolitan State University of Denver scores 46/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,327 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,093 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Metropolitan State University of Denver cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,327 a year, or roughly $61,308 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,093 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,293 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Metropolitan State University of Denver?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.8 years for Metropolitan State University of Denver. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
The six-year graduation rate is 31.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.