C
Average
Score: 52/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
64/100 · earnings-weighted

Metropolitan State University

4-Year Public
📍 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106
Metropolitan State University campus, Saint Paul, MN
Metropolitan State University campus, Saint Paul, MN. Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C+) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 38%
Outcomes
C+
61/100
Affordability
B
68/100
Resources
C
54/100
Experience
C
45/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

6,005
Total Enrollment
38%
Graduation Rate
73%
Retention Rate
14.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
96%
Acceptance Rate
$18,233
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Metropolitan State University ▼

29% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$264,268
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,319
1-Year Change
+3.5%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Metropolitan State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$64,705
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$54,828
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$17,100
Median debt at graduation
43.6%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,020
Average SAT
47.6%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 26% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 73rd percentile among similar colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MN wage index 1.10). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Metropolitan State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$72,865$92,342-14%#225 of 349#261$19,287
Computer and Information Sciences$59,158$85,000-8%#235 of 459#297—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$54,025$83,558-2%#50 of 99#57$22,786
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$77,421$83,504-6%#588 of 966#843$12,541
Information Science/Studies$64,382$81,539-4%#80 of 148#84$17,640
Finance and Financial Management Services$51,544$74,237-11%#273 of 452#342$18,750
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$60,849$73,027+7%#25 of 76#42$15,250
Accounting and Related Services$54,137$72,457-5%#418 of 796#541$18,976
Business Administration, Management and Operations$56,314$71,209+4%#339 of 1176#486$17,500
Management Information Systems and Services—$70,500-15%#135 of 166#143—
Human Resources Management and Services$48,999$70,299+3%#77 of 187#118$22,789
Marketing$49,439$67,031-3%#249 of 516#342$16,625
Criminal Justice and Corrections$52,125$64,481+16%#66 of 660#122$16,146
Chemistry—$63,580-2%#135 of 209#162—
Biology$42,128$63,149+10%#238 of 841#333$15,286
Communication and Media Studies$46,320$61,355+9%#137 of 660#203$20,364
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$56,516$60,780+17%#6 of 50#14$21,335
Social Work$47,637$60,755+17%#35 of 420#60$17,698
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$49,083$60,352+14%#87 of 476#131$16,499
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$39,558$59,779+23%#26 of 137#33$13,095
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies$49,751$58,568+5%#65 of 207#90$17,500
Psychology$40,958$55,824+10%#217 of 1027#311$17,750
Human Services$45,751$51,009+5%#36 of 94#50$16,547
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,471$49,025+3%#290 of 680#503$27,778
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$46,490$48,948-5%#219 of 345#305$19,922
Social Sciences$41,954$48,486-9%#61 of 87#70$16,125
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies—$45,801-11%#82 of 103#85—
Research and Experimental Psychology$36,600$40,230-28%#81 of 82#80—
English Language and Literature$33,999$39,572-19%#508 of 576#552$13,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Metropolitan State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $264,268
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,319/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 55101 (6.6% cap, Saint Paul)

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🏆 Where Metropolitan State University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#29
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
of 60 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,571 $8,571

Financial Aid

90%
Receive Any Aid
67%
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Take Out Loans
$18,233
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$17,714
$30,001 - $48,000$18,480
$48,001 - $75,000$18,128
$75,001 - $110,000$22,145
$110,001+$26,057

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Business Administration and Management, General 198 grads/yr Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 136 grads/yr Psychology, General 120 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 99 grads/yr Information Technology 90 grads/yr Computer Science 90 grads/yr Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 62 grads/yr Accounting 62 grads/yr Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling 56 grads/yr Social Work 54 grads/yr Finance, General 48 grads/yr Human Services, General 48 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 47 grads/yr Marketing/Marketing Management, General 46 grads/yr Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 38 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 35 grads/yr Communication, General 34 grads/yr Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 33 grads/yr Information Science/Studies 31 grads/yr Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 26 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Metropolitan State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

6,005
Total Students
58%
Women
44%
Traditional Age (18-24)
29%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 38%
Hispanic 7%
Black 30%
Asian 16%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 29%
With Family 71%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,717 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 20%
Hybrid (Some Online) 33%
Fully Online 47%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 44%
25-64 (Adult) 54%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Metropolitan State University?
Metropolitan State University has an acceptance rate of 96%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Metropolitan State University?
Tuition at Metropolitan State University is $8,571 for in-state students and $8,571 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $18,233.
What is the graduation rate at Metropolitan State University?
The graduation rate at Metropolitan State University is 38%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Metropolitan State University a good school?
Metropolitan State University has a Repit College Score of 52/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (C): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Metropolitan State University?
Metropolitan State University has a total enrollment of 6,005 students.
Is there rental demand near Metropolitan State University?
Yes! Approximately 29% of students at Metropolitan State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,717 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Saint Paul area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Metropolitan State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Metropolitan State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · 14,709 students
C+
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN · 3,926 students
C+
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN · 10,514 students
C+
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · 4,410 students
C+
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · 9,350 students
C+
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN · 7,324 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology