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Denver, CO · Greeley, CO
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | University of Northern Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,327/yr | $17,760/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,481/yr | $12,695/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,500 | $20,470 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,436/yr | $13,290/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $14,927/yr | $16,038/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,539/yr | $18,441/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,822/yr | $24,306/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $228/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | No data reported | $16,154/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $16,785/yr | $16,254/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,460/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | No data reported | $3,710/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $24,622/yr | $29,254/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,124/yr | $12,416/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $30,684/yr | $27,266/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 36% | 26% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 37% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 86% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 880–1130 | 950–1190 |
| SAT average | 1019 | 1082 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–26 | 21–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 19–25 · Math 17–25 | English 20–26 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 12,403 | 10,274 |
| Students accepted | 12,296 | 8,880 |
| Students who enrolled | 2,132 | 1,229 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 14% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 30% | 23% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 3% | 4% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 32% | 51% |
| Freshmen who come back | 63% | 76% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $52,093/yr | $52,231/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $30,445–$75,678 | $35,297–$71,676 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 39% | 58% |
| White students graduating | 37% | 54% |
| Black students graduating | 24% | 45% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 27% | 48% |
| Asian students graduating | 43% | 48% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,391/yr | $43,756/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 69% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 12% | 38% |
| Pell students who graduate | 29% | 43% |
| First-gen students who finish | 35% | 53% |
| Low-income students who finish | 34% | 55% |
| Students who transfer out | 29% | 32% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,919/yr | $48,079/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Psychology 9% · Health Professions 7% | Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Education 13% · Health Professions 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Education — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 7% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 6% of degrees | Psychology — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 9% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $77,333/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $109,066/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 17% | 8.5% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 15,002 | 5,598 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 14 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,179 | 2,389 |
| Average professor pay | $10,105/mo | $8,988/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 57% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $32,101 | $51,738 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Denver, CO | Greeley, CO |
| Region | Rocky Mountains | Rocky Mountains |
| Founded | 1965 | 1889 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Men | 45% | 33% |
| Women | 55% | 67% |
| White students | 42% | 59% |
| Black students | 8.6% | 4.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 37% | 27% |
| Asian students | 4.5% | 2.1% |
| Two or more races | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 1% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 40% | 35% |
| Part-time students | 44% | 8.2% |
| Students age 25+ | 29% | 11% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,036/yr | $10,378/yr |
| Endowment | $28.9M | $119.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | No — no campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | No data reported | 3,542 |
| Required to live on campus | No data reported | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $7,285/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $7,190/yr |
| Meal plan offered | No | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 268 | 445 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.5M | $7.1M |
| Athletics budget | $8.7M | $23.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $8.9M | $23.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $36,386 | $253,341 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.