Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
CU Denver SHSU CSU-Pueblo TAMUK University of Houston-Downtown Texas State PVAMU UNT Colorado Mesa Tarleton UH Colorado State| Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Beaumont, TX | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,593 | 17,473 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #963 | #938 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mscd.edu | lamar.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,868 | $6,228 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,591 | $16,020 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,679 | $10,272 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,727 | $10,999 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,341 | $10,544 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 88% |
Admission |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,403 | 7,246 | ||
| Admitted | 12,296 | 6,212 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 99.1% | 85.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.03 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1110 | 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 31% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $45,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 42% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $227 |
Diversity |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 38% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 27% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Lamar University | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Metropolitan State College of Denver is larger than than Lamar University based on total student enrollment (17,593 students vs. 17,473 students)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Lamar University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Lamar University?
- Metropolitan State College of Denver is 42.4% more expensive to attend than Lamar University for in-state tuition ($8,868.00 vs. $6,228.00)
- Out of state tuition is 72.2% higher at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Lamar University ($27,591.00 vs. $16,020.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar University than Metropolitan State College of Denver ($10,999 vs. $13,727)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar University are 42.9% lower than costs at Metropolitan State College of Denver ($10,272 vs. $14,679)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lamar University than Metropolitan State College of Denver (88% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar University students is 12.9% larger than aid received Metropolitan State College of Denver ($10,544 vs. $9,341)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Lamar University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Lamar University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lamar University or Metropolitan State College of Denver .
- The average SAT score at Lamar University (974) is 3 points higher than at Metropolitan State College of Denver (971)
- Incoming Metropolitan State College of Denver students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Lamar University (21)
- Accepted freshman Lamar University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (3.03)
- Metropolitan State College of Denver has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than Lamar University (85.7%)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Lamar University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Lamar University? 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 Lamar University and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
- The graduation rate at Lamar University is higher than Metropolitan State College of Denver (31% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Lamar University earn on average $2,900 more per year than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $42,600)
- Lamar University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,250)
- Lamar University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($227 vs. $250)
- More Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lamar University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 42%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/