Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University is a public research university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving roughly 5,616 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 98.71% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $64,705 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,840
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,863 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 98.71% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,616 52.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 43.57%
- Average SAT Score: 1020
Metropolitan State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Metropolitan State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Metropolitan State University?
Metropolitan State University is located in Saint Paul, MN (ZIP 55106-5000).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Metropolitan State University public or private?
Metropolitan State University is a Public institution.
How much does Metropolitan State University cost?
Published tuition: $9,840.
Average net price after aid: $16,863.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $15,238 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,656 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,659 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,994 |
| $110,001+ | $21,905 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $39,360.
How hard is it to get into Metropolitan State University?
Admission rate: 98.71%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1020.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Metropolitan State University?
Total enrollment: 5,616 students.
About 52% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University?
150%-time completion rate: 43.57%.
First-year retention: 67.5%.
What do graduates of Metropolitan State University earn?
Median earnings: $54,828 six years after entry; $64,705 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $17,100.
47.55% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Metropolitan State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,740 completions)
- CIP 520201 (198 completions)
- Other Multidisciplinary Studies (136 completions)
- General Psychology (120 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (99 completions)
- General Computer & Information Sciences (90 completions)
- Computer Science (90 completions)
- Graphic Communications (62 completions)
- CIP 520301 (62 completions)
- CIP 511501 (56 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Metropolitan State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 98.71%; completion rate 43.57%; median earnings $64,705 at 10 years; net price $16,863. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$9,840
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Metropolitan State University was $9,840.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,863
2024 Value
In 2024 Metropolitan State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,863.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,452 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,863 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$39,360 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Metropolitan State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
47.55% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Metropolitan State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Metropolitan State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,642 | $13,227 | $12,314 |
| 2014 | $6,642 | $13,227 | $14,270 |
| 2015 | $7,566 | $14,394 | $15,344 |
| 2016 | $7,566 | $14,394 | $15,350 |
| 2017 | $7,859 | $14,960 | $14,814 |
| 2018 | $7,879 | $14,980 | $15,549 |
| 2019 | $8,114 | $15,428 | $15,225 |
| 2020 | $8,249 | $15,673 | $16,044 |
| 2021 | $9,395 | $9,395 | $17,718 |
| 2022 | $9,684 | $9,684 | $19,523 |
| 2023 | $9,780 | $9,780 | $19,181 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
98.71% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1020
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
52.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Metropolitan State University in 2024 is 5,616 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
27.14% 100% Completion Time
43.57% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 27.14% of students graduating from Metropolitan State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Metropolitan State University.
Return on Investment
$17,100 Median Student Debt
$64,705 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
26.43% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
859.27% Return on Investment
2.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Metropolitan State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 198 completions
Other Multidisciplinary Studies: 136 completions
General Psychology: 120 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 99 completions
General Computer & Information Sciences: 90 completions
Computer Science: 90 completions
Graphic Communications: 62 completions
CIP 52.0301: 62 completions
CIP 51.1501: 56 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,740 completions
Most popular programs at Metropolitan State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Metropolitan State University graduates.
About
Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, MN, offering 63 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 5,616 students. The admission rate is 98.71%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1020. The institution maintains a 43.57% graduation rate. Approximately 47.55% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Saint Paul, MN 55106-5000
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 63 distinct degree programs, Metropolitan State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Metropolitan State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $9,840 and average net price is $16,863 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Metropolitan State University?
The admission rate is 98.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Metropolitan State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Metropolitan State University reports midpoint SAT about 1020.
What do graduates of Metropolitan State University earn?
Median earnings are $54,828 six years after entry and $64,705 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 43.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Metropolitan State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $17,100.
How big is Metropolitan State University?
Total enrollment is about 5,616 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Metropolitan State University public or private?
Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, MN.
Is Metropolitan State University an HBCU?
No. Metropolitan State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Metropolitan State University a tribal college?
No. Metropolitan State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Metropolitan State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Metropolitan State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 8.2%).
Is Metropolitan State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Metropolitan State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.