Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota · Public · 98.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Metropolitan State University is a public commuter-focused institution serving the Twin Cities metro from Saint Paul, with a CampusROI score of 72 (Fair Value). The cost picture is reasonable: $9,840 in-state tuition, $16,863 average net price, and a $67,452 four-year total. Outcomes are the engine of the score: 10-year median earnings of $64,705 produce a 44% earnings premium (sub-score 86), a 7-year payback period (sub-score 83), and a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 89) on $17,100 of median debt. The two weak inputs are completion at 43.6% (sub-score 27) and three-year repayment at 69.1% (sub-score 38). The completion figure understates the actual outcomes because Metro State's adult-learner mission means many students are part-time transfers who finish elsewhere or take longer than the standard four-year window. The honest read: for working adults completing a Twin Cities-area bachelor's degree, particularly in CS, business, or nursing, Metro State is a strong cost-to-earnings bet - as long as the student actually finishes.
Metropolitan State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,840/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $9,840/yr |
| Average net price | $16,863/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $67,452 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,705 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,100 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $181 |
| Estimated payback period | 7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,616 |
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: $9,840/year, 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 $16,863/year, or roughly $67,452 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 $15,238/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,905/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,100, which works out to about $181 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,600) and comes to 0.38, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $15,238 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,656 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,659 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,994 |
| $110,001+ | $21,905 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $15,238 net annually - about $61,000 over four years. With $64,705 of 10-year earnings and a 7-year payback period, the math works for students who finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $16,659, while $75,001-$110,000 pays $18,994 - $67,000-$76,000 over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $21,905 net, or about $88,000 over four years. The math still works given the strong earnings outcomes, particularly for CS/IT students; Metro State competes credibly with U of M-Twin Cities at this tier on cost-to-earnings ratio for tech majors.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Metropolitan State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,209 | C+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $58,568 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $83,504 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $92,342 | B |
| Psychology | $55,824 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,481 | C |
| Social Work | $60,755 | C |
| Accounting | $72,457 | C |
| Human Services, General | $51,009 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $85,000 | 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 one of Metro State's flagship programs. Graduates earn $72,865 at one year and $92,342 at four years against $27,008 of debt - a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. With 105 graduates per year this is the second-largest cohort on campus. The Twin Cities tech corridor (Target, UnitedHealth, Best Buy, 3M) provides strong placement, and Metro State has a notable working-developer student profile that lifts post-graduation outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is by far the largest cohort at 245 graduates per year. Graduates earn $56,314 at one year and $71,209 at four years against $29,250 of debt - a 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. With this scale and these outcomes, Metro State Business is a defensible choice for in-state working adults.
Registered Nursing
Nursing graduates earn $77,421 at one year and $83,504 at four years against $35,762 of debt - a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade (the C+ rather than B is largely driven by the higher debt load typical of accelerated/bridge nursing programs). With 107 graduates per year this is a large nursing program and benefits from the Mayo, Allina, and HealthPartners RN labor market.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS graduates earn $59,158 at one year and $85,000 at four years against $26,113 of debt - a 0.44 ratio and a B grade. With 50 graduates per year this is a strong adjacent track to CS, often filled by transfer students from technical career paths. The four-year earnings figure indicates significant career progression after graduation.
Psychology
Psychology is one of the larger cohorts at 102 graduates per year, but financially weaker. Graduates earn $40,958 at one year and $55,824 at four years against $30,155 of debt - a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. As is typical for bachelor's psychology, well-paid clinical paths require master's or doctoral training.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Metropolitan State University’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 | 98.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-21 |
| Enrollment | 5,616 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,336 |
Metro State admits 98.7% of applicants - effectively open admissions, consistent with its adult-learner and transfer-student mission. SAT mid-ranges are not reported; ACT mid-50% range is 16-21, indicating a broadly access-oriented academic profile. The 43.6% completion rate must be read in context: many students arrive as transfers with credit in hand, or attend part-time while working. Selectivity does not gate outcomes here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University (this school) | 72 | $16,863 | $64,705 |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | 76 | $13,663 | $59,247 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 72 | $13,323 | $57,053 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 70 | $20,927 | $68,804 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| Bemidji State University | 60 | $15,261 | $53,755 |
Who Thrives Here
With 5,616 students, a 47.6% Pell rate, and an explicit working-adult focus, Metro State fits Twin Cities residents - often in their late 20s and 30s - pursuing a bachelor's degree while employed. Outcomes look exceptional in computer science ($92,342 four-year, 105 graduates) and information science ($81,539 four-year, 43 graduates), and strong in business administration (245 graduates, $71,209 four-year). Students need to be self-driven about completion; the school's flexibility cuts both ways.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Metropolitan State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,863 a year after aid ($67,452 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $64,705 a decade out, the cost takes about 7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 43.6% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $17,100 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, 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: Common Questions
Is Metropolitan State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Metropolitan State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,863 a year after aid ($67,452 over four years) against $64,705 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Metropolitan State University 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 $16,863 a year, or roughly $67,452 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 graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,705 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,905 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?
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 7 years for Metropolitan State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Metropolitan State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,100, against average earnings of $44,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. 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?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.6%. 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.