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Metropolitan State University of Denver
Explore one of the most distinguished institutions in CO. Your pathway to a brighter future begins here.
Annual Tuition
$10,780
Average Sticker Price
Admission Rate
99.1%
Selectivity Level
Graduation Rate
29.5%
Completion Success
Median Earnings
$52,093
10y Career Outlook
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About Institution
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver or Metro State) is a public university in Denver, Colorado, United States. It is located on the Auraria Campus, along with the University of Colorado Denver and the Community College of Denver, in downtown Denver, adjacent to Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue. In the fall 2025 semester, MSU Denver had an enrollment of 17,111 undergraduate students and 1,225 graduate students.
Source: Wikipedia Data
Admissions Intel
SAT Score Range
ACT Score Range
Acceptance Rate
99.1%
Investment Return
Estimated College ROI Analysis
Total 4-Year Cost
$43,120
Based on sticker tuition
Estimated Payback
2.0 yrs
Time to recoup investment
Annual Earnings Boost
+$22,093
vs. $30k HS diploma baseline
10-Year Net Gain
+$177,810
Cumulative earnings advantage minus total college cost
20-Year Net Gain
+$398,740
Long-term projected return on your education investment
Graduation Rate: 29%
Students who don't graduate may still carry debt without the full earnings benefit. Consider program-specific outcomes in the Career Paths section below.
ROI estimates use the BLS national median of $30,000/yr for high school diploma holders as a baseline. Actual results vary based on major, career path, location, and individual circumstances. Median graduate debt at Metropolitan State University of Denver is $21,500.
Student Community
Gender Balance
Ethnic Diversity
Security Audit
Incidents
51
Burglary
9
Theft
28
Assault
4
Robbery
2
Rape
6
Arson
2
Murder
0
Financial Outlook
Total Sticker Price
$10,780
Estimated cost before aid.
Net Price By Income
Debt & Financial Aid
Repayment measured in 2016–17; this federal measure was discontinued.
Grant Aid (IPEDS 2021)
* Most students receive significant grants and scholarships, reducing the actual cost. Grant data from IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey.
Quick Overview
Faculty Ratio
N/A
Retention
70.4%
Success
29.5%
In-State Cost
$10,780
Age 25+ Students
29.3%
Carnegie Class
Master's: Larger
Working at 6yr
6,242 students
Security Benchmark
Campus vs. City Comparison (Per 100k)
Violent Offenses
PER 100KProperty Crimes
PER 100KStats sourced from institutional reports and municipal data. These rates provide a standardized baseline for comparing safety across different environments.
Living In Denver
Off-Campus Market Estimator
Studio
$1,658
Monthly Average
1 Bedroom
$1,835
Monthly Average
2 Bedrooms
$2,201
Monthly Average
3 Bedrooms
$
Monthly Average
Data provided by HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR). These estimates assist with financial planning for off-campus housing in the Denver metropolitan area.