Colorado Mesa University vs Metropolitan State University of Denver
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -35% | +53% |
| 10-year net gain | $-23,999 | $36,687 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $49,443 | $55,583 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $38,204 | $42,109 |
| Average net price | $15,103 | $15,327 |
| Median debt | $22,000 | $21,500 |
| Break-even | 15.4 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 41% | 32% |
| Admission rate | 82% | 99% |
Colorado Mesa University
Poor return
$-23,999 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Break-even
+$36,687 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.