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Colorado Springs, CO · Denver, CO
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Metropolitan State University of Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,788/yr | $15,327/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,065/yr | $12,481/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,000 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,642/yr | $12,436/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $12,104/yr | $14,927/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,388/yr | $19,539/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $22,142/yr | $23,822/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $212/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,918/yr | No data reported |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,590/yr | $16,785/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,800/yr | $1,460/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,488/yr | No data reported |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $24,595/yr | $24,622/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,149/yr | $11,124/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $24,336/yr | $30,684/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 27% | 36% |
| Students taking federal loans | 34% | 28% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 97% | 99% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1010–1220 | 880–1130 |
| SAT average | 1133 | 1019 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 20–26 | 17–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–27 · Math 18–25 | English 19–25 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 13,103 | 12,403 |
| Students accepted | 12,653 | 12,296 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,747 | 2,132 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 14% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 34% | 30% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 7% | 3% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Not considered | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | 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 | 47% | 32% |
| Freshmen who come back | 68% | 63% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,659/yr | $52,093/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,957–$81,777 | $30,445–$75,678 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 46% | 39% |
| White students graduating | 50% | 37% |
| Black students graduating | 29% | 24% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 44% | 27% |
| Asian students graduating | 57% | 43% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,766/yr | $45,391/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 69% |
| Graduate on time | 28% | 12% |
| Pell students who graduate | 39% | 29% |
| First-gen students who finish | 46% | 35% |
| Low-income students who finish | 45% | 34% |
| Students who transfer out | 30% | 29% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,312/yr | $48,919/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% · Health Professions 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Psychology 9% · Health Professions 7% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Health Professions — 7% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Engineering, General — $114,220/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $77,333/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 24% | 17% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 8,697 | 15,002 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 14 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,052 | 1,179 |
| Average professor pay | $9,318/mo | $10,105/mo |
| Full-time professors | 62% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $42,591 | $32,101 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (large) |
| Location | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO |
| Region | Rocky Mountains | Rocky Mountains |
| Founded | 1965 | 1965 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Men | 47% | 45% |
| Women | 53% | 55% |
| White students | 59% | 42% |
| Black students | 5% | 8.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 21% | 37% |
| Asian students | 4% | 4.5% |
| Two or more races | 7.7% | 5.5% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 31% | 40% |
| Part-time students | 18% | 44% |
| Students age 25+ | 22% | 29% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,886/yr | $8,036/yr |
| Endowment | No data reported | $28.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | No — no campus housing |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,719 | No data reported |
| Required to live on campus | No | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | No |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | No data reported |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 10 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 350 | 268 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.5M | $2.5M |
| Athletics budget | $7.7M | $8.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.8M | $8.9M |
| Recruiting spend | $24,493 | $36,386 |
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 and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.