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CU Boulder Colorado State DU UCCS CSU-Pueblo Regis Texas Tech Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Colorado Mesa Cleveland State| University of Colorado Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Denver, CO | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,409 | 17,593 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #391 | #963 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | mscd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,096 | $8,868 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,288 | $27,591 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,920 | $14,679 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,303 | $13,727 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,079 | $9,341 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 65% |
Admission |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,569 | 12,403 | ||
| Admitted | 11,336 | 12,296 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 99.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 17.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.03 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 880/1110 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 21% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $42,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $250 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 8% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
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| % In-State | 85% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | Metropolitan State College of Denver | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than Metropolitan State College of Denver based on total student enrollment (23,409 students vs. 17,593 students)
CU Denver vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or Metropolitan State College of Denver?
- University of Colorado Denver is 2.6% more expensive to attend than Metropolitan State College of Denver for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $8,868.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.1% higher at Metropolitan State College of Denver than University of Colorado Denver ($27,591.00 vs. $27,288.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Metropolitan State College of Denver than CU Denver ($13,727 vs. $15,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Metropolitan State College of Denver are 1.6% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($14,679 vs. $14,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Metropolitan State College of Denver (86% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Metropolitan State College of Denver students is 15.6% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($9,341 vs. $8,079)
CU Denver vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver 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 CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 84 points higher than at Metropolitan State College of Denver (971)
- Incoming CU Denver students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (21)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (3.03)
- Metropolitan State College of Denver has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than CU Denver (77.8%)
CU Denver vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver 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 CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at CU Denver is higher than Metropolitan State College of Denver (40% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $25,600 more per year than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $42,600)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $3,060 lower median federal student loan debt than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($21,190 vs. $24,250)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($219 vs. $250)
- More CU Denver 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/