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CU Denver CSU-Pueblo FLC Colorado Mesa Colorado State CU Boulder Regis DU UCCS MSU University of Northern Colorado Colorado School of Mines| Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Gunnison, CO | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,995 | 3,548 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #990 | #709 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mscd.edu | western.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,445 | $6,936 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,277 | $18,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,411 | $10,286 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,805 | $16,672 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,930 | $9,189 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 91% |
Admission |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,163 | 3,116 | ||
| Admitted | 9,951 | 2,862 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.9% | 91.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 15.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.03 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/23 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 910/1130 | 1010/1270 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $40,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $222 |
Diversity |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 6% |
Students |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
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| % In-State | 97% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Metropolitan State College of Denver | Western State Colorado University | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Metropolitan State College of Denver is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (16,995 students vs. 3,548 students)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Western State Colorado University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Western State Colorado University?
- Metropolitan State College of Denver is 21.8% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($8,445.00 vs. $6,936.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.6% higher at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Western State Colorado University ($26,277.00 vs. $18,960.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Western State Colorado University ($14,805 vs. $16,672)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 20.7% lower than costs at Metropolitan State College of Denver ($10,286 vs. $12,411)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Western State Colorado University (100% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western State Colorado University students is 55% larger than aid received Metropolitan State College of Denver ($9,189 vs. $5,930)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Western State Colorado University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Western State Colorado University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western State Colorado University or Metropolitan State College of Denver .
- The average SAT score at Metropolitan State College of Denver (971) is 7 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
- Incoming Metropolitan State College of Denver students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
- Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (3.03)
- Metropolitan State College of Denver has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Western State Colorado University (91.8%)
Metropolitan State College of Denver vs. Western State Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Metropolitan State College of Denver or Western State Colorado 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 Western State Colorado University and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
- The graduation rate at Western State Colorado University is higher than Metropolitan State College of Denver (39% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from Metropolitan State College of Denver earn on average $1,800 more per year than Western State Colorado University graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $40,800)
- Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,250)
- Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($222 vs. $250)
- More Western State Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Metropolitan State College of Denver students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/