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Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

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About Metropolitan State University of Denver

Set in downtown Denver's urban core, Metropolitan State University of Denver is known for practical, career focused academics in business, health, education, the arts, social sciences, and STEM. Learning feels hands on, with labs, studios, and maker spaces tied to real projects. Support runs deep with advising, tutoring, counseling, and identity based resources, plus a student union, library, and fitness facilities.

Student life blends commuter energy with clubs, service groups, student media, and outdoor meetups. The culture is inclusive and no nonsense, a come as you are place where many students work while they study. Career prep leans on internships and networking with downtown employers in tech, aerospace, health care, hospitality, government, and nonprofits. The Auraria Campus is shared with two partner institutions, widening events and resources. And the Rockies sit close for quick resets.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location
Speer Blvd and Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado, 80217, USA
Unit ID
127565

Academic & Institutional

Control
Public institution (funded by state or local government)
Accreditation
HLC
Length of Study
Programs under 2 years (e.g. certificate or diploma)
Calendar System
Semester system (two main terms per year)
Award Levels
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
Campus Setting
Located in a large city (population of 250,000 or more)
Carnegie Classification
Master's - Large programs
Tuition & Fees
In-State
$10,780
Tuition $8,868 + Fee $1,912
Out-of-State
$29,503
Tuition $27,591 + Fee $1,912
Student Profile
Total Students 17,593
Undergraduate 14,932
Graduate/Other 2,661
Male: 7,630 Female: 9,963
Applications
Total Applicants 12,403
Admitted 12,296
Enrolled 2,132
Acceptance: 99.1% Yield: 17.3%
Staff
Total Staff 2,348
Full-time 1,468
Part-time 880
Full-time: 62.5% Part-time: 37.5%

Academic Programs & Fields of Study

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) offers 106 degree programs across 27 major academic fields, graduating approximately 3,568 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (16 programs, 569 graduates), Liberal Arts (1 programs, 337 graduates), Public Services (1 programs, 312 graduates), Health (12 programs, 283 graduates) and Psychology (2 programs, 280 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.

Business (16 programs, 569 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Business Administration and Management 156
Bachelor's
Master's
52.0201
Accounting 124
Bachelor's
Master's
52.0301
Marketing Management 63
Bachelor's
52.1401
Finance, General 52
Bachelor's
Other Award
52.0801
Management Information Systems 52
Bachelor's
52.1201
Entrepreneurship Studies 31
Bachelor's
52.0701
Construction Management 31
Bachelor's
52.2001
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 14
Bachelor's
52.1399
Meeting and Event Planning 13
Bachelor's
52.0907
Hospitality Management 10
Bachelor's
52.0901
Sales Skills and Operations 5
Bachelor's
52.1804
Business Administration and Management 4
Bachelor's
52.0299
Accounting and Auditing 4
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
52.0303
Hotel and Motel Management 4
Bachelor's
52.0904
Restaurant and Food Services Management 4
Bachelor's
52.0905
Tourism and Travel Services Marketing 2
Bachelor's
52.1905
Liberal Arts (1 programs, 337 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
General Studies 337
Associate's
24.0102
Public Services (1 programs, 312 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Social Work 312
Bachelor's
Master's
44.0701
Health (12 programs, 283 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Registered Nursing 84
Bachelor's
51.3801
Health Administration and Management 67
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
51.0701
Dietetics 28
Postbac Cert.
51.3101
Alternative and Complementary Medicine 28
Bachelor's
51.3399
Substance Abuse Counseling 19
Master's
51.1501
Communication Sciences and Disorders 16
Bachelor's
Other Award
51.0201
Speech-Language Pathology 12
Master's
51.0203
Health Professions and Related Sciences 11
Bachelor's
51.9999
Health and Medical Administration 10
Bachelor's
51.0799
Medical Informatics 4
Bachelor's
51.2706
Public Health 3
Bachelor's
51.2201
Lactation Consultant 1
Other Award
51.0815
Psychology (2 programs, 280 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Experimental Psychology 235
Bachelor's
42.2799
Developmental and Child Psychology 45
Bachelor's
42.2703
Education (10 programs, 203 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Elementary Education 52
Bachelor's
13.1202
General Education 51
Master's
13.0101
Early Childhood Education 25
Bachelor's
13.1210
Curriculum and Instruction 19
Master's
13.0301
Art Education 15
Bachelor's
13.1302
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 15
Bachelor's
13.1314
Special Education Teaching 12
Bachelor's
13.1001
Music Teacher Education 11
Bachelor's
13.1312
Teaching Individuals with Autism 2
Postbac Cert.
13.1013
Instructional Technology 1
Postbac Cert.
13.0501
Computer & IT (2 programs, 156 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Computer Science 94
Bachelor's
11.0701
Information Systems Security and Auditing 62
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
11.1003
Biological Sciences (2 programs, 141 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Biology and Biological Sciences 135
Bachelor's
26.0101
Biochemistry 6
Bachelor's
26.0202
Security & Safety (2 programs, 140 graduates)
Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Criminal Justice and Safety Studies 130
Bachelor's
43.0104
Fire Services Administration 10
Bachelor's
43.0202
Interdisciplinary (2 programs, 137 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Nutrition Sciences 78
Bachelor's
Master's
30.1901
Multi- and Interdisciplinary Studies 59
Bachelor's
30.9999

Admission Requirements & Test Scores

Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver).

Application Requirements

Secondary School GPA
Required
Secondary School Rank
Required
Secondary School Record
Required
Recommendations
Neither required nor recommended
Formal Demonstration of Competencies
Neither required nor recommended
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL)
Required
Personal Statement or Essay
Neither required nor recommended
Standardized Test Scores
SAT Scores
The SAT is a standardized college admission test measuring reading, writing, and math skills. Scores range from 400-1600 (combined Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math sections).
Composite Score Range
880 - 1110
25th-75th percentile
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 450 - 570
Median: 510
Math 430 - 540
Median: 500
ACT Scores
The ACT is a standardized test for college admissions assessing English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Scores range from 1-36 (composite of all sections).
Composite Score Range
17 - 23
25th-75th percentile
English 16 - 24
Median: 21
Math 16 - 24
Median: 19

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$12,240
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$30,963
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$10,780
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$29,503
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$14,679 (off-campus)
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$1,460
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$6,120 (off-campus)
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$5,949
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$10,635
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$12,714
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

10%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$9,341
Avg. Loan
$6,616
Avg. Federal Loan
$4,872
Additional
Students with Any Grant
1,007
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
372
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
758
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$3,480
Average amount of institutional grant awarded

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

30%
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
70%
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
$30,445 – $75,678
Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile, 10 Years)
$30,445 (25th %) $75,678 (75th %)
*Median Salary After 10 Years: $52,093
Median Salary After 6 Years
$45,391
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$52,093
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
47.8%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
65.7%
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$21,500
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Low 41.3%
Middle 53.8%
High 56.6%
Repayment by Dependency
Dependent 52.0%
Independent 44.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)

How much does it cost to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)?

The annual tuition at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) is $10,780 for in-state students and $29,503 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $12,240 for in-state students and $30,963 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $14,679 (off-campus) and books and supplies $1,460.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does Metropolitan State University of Denver offer?

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) offers 106 academic programs across 27 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Other Award.

Most popular program areas include:

  • Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (16 programs)
  • Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities (1 programs)
  • Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services (1 programs)
  • Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (12 programs)
  • Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (2 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What is the acceptance rate for Metropolitan State University of Denver?

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) has an 99.1% acceptance rate and a 17.3% yield rate, making it moderately selective.

Admission statistics breakdown:

  • Total applicants: 12,403
  • Students admitted: 12,296
  • Students enrolled: 2,132

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at Metropolitan State University of Denver?

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) provides financial aid to 10% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $9,341 and average loans of $6,616.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $4,909
  • State/Local grants: $4,133
  • Institutional grants: $3,480
  • Federal loans: $4,872

The university supports 1,007 students with grants and 372 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates?

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) graduates earn a median salary of $45,391 after 6 years and $52,093 after 10 years.

The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $30,445 (25th percentile) to $75,678 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $76,500 (90th percentile).

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

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