Head-to-head comparison
Colorado State University-Fort Collins vs Metropolitan State University of Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Net price / year
- $21,279
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,543
- Payback
- 7 yrs
Option B Denver, CO
Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Net price / year
- $15,327
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,093
- Payback
- 16.4 yrs
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,116 in 7 years versus 16.4 years at Metropolitan State University of Denver, on median earnings of $60,543 vs $52,093 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Metropolitan State University of Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,279 | $15,327 |
| Total net cost | $85,116 | $61,308 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,543 | $52,093 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 16.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,544 | $13,352 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Metropolitan State University of Denver, at $15,327 a year after aid versus $21,279 — a gap of $5,952 a year, or $23,808 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates earn more?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates report a median $60,543 ten years after entry, $8,450 more than the $52,093 at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Metropolitan State University of Denver, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, against 32% at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.