Metropolitan State University of Denver — ROI, Cost & Payback
Metropolitan State University of Denver charges a net price of $15,327/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,308. Graduates earn a median $52,093 ten years after entry, $3,733/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 16.4 years — a 20-year net return of $13,352, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Metropolitan State University of Denver's 16.4-year payback ranks #998 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 22% of them, and #12 of 50 in Colorado.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,327/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $61,308 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,093 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,733/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $13,352 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Metropolitan State University of Denver's own numbers. Net price $15,327 × 4 years = $61,308 total. Median earnings $52,093 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,733 a year of premium. $61,308 ÷ $3,733 = 16.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $13,352. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Metropolitan State University of Denver students graduate with?
A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $52,093 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Metropolitan State University of Denver students graduate?
32% finish their degree — 68% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $61,308 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $191,588 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?
Its $15,327 net price runs $1,141 below the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, and $4,562 less across the full degree.