Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver #200 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,186, placing Metropolitan State University of Denver in the 45.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Metropolitan State University of Denver sits in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting outcomes that consistently run ahead of what similar students earn at comparable institutions. --- Metropolitan State University of Denver's composite ranking reflects a broad-access urban public university that delivers stronger-than-expected graduate earnings relative to its cost and student profile. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,186 and earn about $5,881 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a combination that positions MSU Denver favorably among nonprofit four-year institutions serving working and first-generation students.
Azimuth ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver #204 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 86.3 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 62.9% and a six-year graduation rate of 31.5%. Return on investment ranks #630, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,186. Graduates earn about $5,881 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 76.0 percentile; published cost of attendance is $24,622, and the middle-income net price is $14,927. Access sits in the 77.8 percentile, with 35.5% receiving Pell Grants and 40.5% first-generation.
Metropolitan State University of Denver prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $12,481 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $14,927, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $23,822. Azimuth ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver #343 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its orientation toward serving cost-sensitive students in the Denver metro area. For families weighing the net price illusion — the gap between a school's published cost and what families actually pay — Metropolitan State University of Denver's income-differentiated pricing is worth examining closely. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students pay. Metropolitan State University of Denver draws a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students, and its aid structure is designed to keep net prices manageable for lower-income families. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Colorado's state grant landscape provides additional support for in-state residents that can further reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying families. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,743; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,186, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a strong fit for students in Colorado who want an accessible urban public university with a practical, career-oriented program mix — particularly those drawn to business, health, and applied professional fields in a high-demand regional labor market. Graduates earn about $5,881 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Metropolitan State University of Denver in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates also earn median 4-year earnings of $60,186, placing Metropolitan State University of Denver in the 45.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a result that reflects the university's concentration in Business and other applied fields with direct labor-market alignment in Denver. The access profile is broad. 35.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.5% are first-generation students, and Metropolitan State University of Denver sits in the 43.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Median debt at graduation is $21,500, which keeps the financial ask in a range that many working students and Pell-eligible families can plan around. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Metropolitan State University of Denver is broadly accessible, admitting 98.8% of applicants, so the competitive bar is low — but the program mix is weighted toward professional and applied fields rather than research or liberal-arts pathways. Students whose goals align with those areas, and who want to build careers in the Denver metro, will find the earnings outcomes and affordability profile a compelling combination.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
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This is the Metropolitan State University Of Denver hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Similar quality tier in West (#5421 ranked) | CO | 89% | $60,543 | #5421 | Compare |
East Texas A&M University Similar quality tier (#5423 ranked) | TX | 92% | $50,296 | #5423 | Compare |
University Of North Florida Similar quality tier (#5427 ranked) | FL | 53% | $56,343 | #5427 | Compare |
University Of West Florida Similar quality tier (#4903 ranked) | FL | 58% | $49,137 | #4903 | Compare |
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University Similar quality tier (#4902 ranked) | FL | 21% | $44,349 | #4902 | Compare |
Computer Science
70 graduates
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
20 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
55 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
75 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
97 graduates
Metropolitan State University of Denver's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 22% of graduates, followed by Arts at 4% and Social Sciences at 4%. This applied-professional concentration shapes the institution's earnings profile: the largest programs channel graduates into business, health, and public-service career tracks rather than research-intensive or graduate-school-dependent pathways.
Research Psychology is the largest program with 282 graduates, followed by Business Administration (182 graduates), Biology, General (180 graduates), Criminal Justice (157 graduates), and Accounting (117 graduates). Across 59 programs serving roughly 3,048 students annually, 46 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The highest median four-year earnings come from Nursing, where graduates earn $86,259 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #220 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Accounting follows with median earnings of $73,698, and Azimuth ranks it #149 among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration graduates earn $65,387, with Azimuth ranking the program #226 among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs represent comparatively small cohorts, but their earnings outcomes signal clear upside for students who choose them.
Research Psychology combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall earnings picture. The broader pattern at Metropolitan State University of Denver reflects a workforce-oriented university where most graduates enter the labor market directly in fields like business, nursing, and criminal justice — sectors with steady regional hiring demand in the Denver metro area.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Metropolitan State University of Denver prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $12,481 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $14,927, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $23,822.
Azimuth ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver #343 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its orientation toward serving cost-sensitive students in the Denver metro area.
For families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between a school's published cost and what families actually pay — Metropolitan State University of Denver's income-differentiated pricing is worth examining closely. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students pay.
Metropolitan State University of Denver draws a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students, and its aid structure is designed to keep net prices manageable for lower-income families. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Colorado's state grant landscape provides additional support for in-state residents that can further reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying families.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,743; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,186, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver earn median 4-year earnings of $60,186, placing Metropolitan State University of Denver in the 45.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,881 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver #630 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Research and Experimental Psychology reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $48,655, ranked #37 nationally in its major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 182 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $65,387, ranked #207 nationally in its major.
Biology, General reports 180 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $57,920, ranked #172 nationally in its major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 157 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,564, ranked #73 nationally in its major.
