Colorado State vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State or Metropolitan State College of Denver is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

CU Boulder CU Denver MSU OSU UCCS CSU-Pueblo UO DU Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado Nebraska UW
Colorado State University Fort Collins vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins Metropolitan State College of Denver College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins Metropolitan State College of Denver
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Location Fort Collins, CO Denver, CO
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 33,403 16,995
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #990
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu mscd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $8,445
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $26,277
Room & Board $13,728 $12,411
Avg Net Price $16,926 $14,805
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $5,930
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 10,163
Admitted 30,066 9,951
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 97.9%
Enrolled % 18.5% 19.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.03
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 16/23
SAT Range 1080/1290 910/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Graduation Rate 64% 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $217 $250

Diversity

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
% Men 45% 43%
% Women 55% 57%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 58%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 11% 22%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
% In-State 59% 97%
% Out-of-State 40% 3%

Campus

Colorado State Metropolitan State College of Denver
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than Metropolitan State College of Denver based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 16,995 students)

Colorado State vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or Metropolitan State College of Denver?

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 21% more expensive to attend than Metropolitan State College of Denver for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $8,445.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.5% higher at Colorado State than Metropolitan State College of Denver ($30,078.00 vs. $26,277.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Colorado State ($14,805 vs. $16,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Metropolitan State College of Denver are 10.6% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($12,411 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Colorado State University Fort Collins (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 80.9% larger than aid received Metropolitan State College of Denver ($10,727 vs. $5,930)

Colorado State vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Metropolitan State College of Denver or Colorado State .

  • The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 174 points higher than at Metropolitan State College of Denver (971)
  • Incoming Colorado State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (21)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (3.03)
  • Metropolitan State College of Denver has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Colorado State (90.8%)

Colorado State vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Metropolitan State College of Denver and Colorado State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Metropolitan State College of Denver (64% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $9,200 more per year than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $42,600)
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $3,246 lower median federal student loan debt than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($21,004 vs. $24,250)
  • Colorado State graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($217 vs. $250)
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Metropolitan State College of Denver students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/