Adams State College vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver

Should I go to Adams State College or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Adams State College or Metropolitan State College of Denver is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

CU Denver CSU-Pueblo Colorado Mesa Colorado State CU Boulder Regis DU UCCS FLC University of Northern Colorado Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Adams State College vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver comparison
Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver College 3 College 4
Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Location Alamosa, CO Denver, CO
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 2,950 17,593
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1022 #963
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website adams.edu mscd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Tuition (In State) $6,072 $8,868
Tuition (Out of State) $18,144 $27,591
Room & Board $9,553 $14,679
Avg Net Price $13,800 $13,727
Avg Grant Aid $9,393 $9,341
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 65%

Admission

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 12,403
Admitted - 12,296
Acceptance Rate 99.1%
Enrolled % 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.03
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/26 17/23
SAT Range 910/1130 880/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Graduation Rate 23% 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,291 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $220 $250

Diversity

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
% Men 14% 2%
% Women 33% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 58%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 32% 22%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
% In-State 63% 97%
% Out-of-State 34% 3%

Campus

 Adams State College Metropolitan State College of Denver
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Metropolitan State College of Denver is larger than than Adams State College based on total student enrollment (17,593 students vs. 2,950 students)

Adams State College vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Adams State College or Metropolitan State College of Denver?

  • Metropolitan State College of Denver is 46% more expensive to attend than Adams State College for in-state tuition ($8,868.00 vs. $6,072.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.1% higher at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Adams State College ($27,591.00 vs. $18,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Metropolitan State College of Denver than Adams State College ($13,727 vs. $13,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Adams State College are 53.7% lower than costs at Metropolitan State College of Denver ($9,553 vs. $14,679)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Adams State College than Metropolitan State College of Denver (91% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Adams State College students is 0.6% larger than aid received Metropolitan State College of Denver ($9,393 vs. $9,341)

Which college is harder to get into, Adams State College or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Metropolitan State College of Denver or Adams State College .

  • The average SAT score at Metropolitan State College of Denver (971) is 17 points higher than at Adams State College (954)
  • Incoming Metropolitan State College of Denver students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Adams State College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Adams State College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (3.03)

Adams State College vs. Metropolitan State College of Denver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Adams State College or Metropolitan State College of Denver? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Metropolitan State College of Denver and Adams State College.

  • The graduation rate at Adams State College is higher than Metropolitan State College of Denver (23% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Metropolitan State College of Denver earn on average $4,500 more per year than Adams State College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $38,100)
  • Adams State College students graduate with a $2,959 lower median federal student loan debt than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($21,291 vs. $24,250)
  • Adams State College graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates. ($220 vs. $250)
  • More Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Adams State College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/