Head-to-head comparison
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Metropolitan State University of Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
- Net price / year
- $16,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,180
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Denver, CO
Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Net price / year
- $15,327
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,093
- Payback
- 16.4 yrs
Metropolitan State University of Denver has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,308 in 16.4 years versus not at all at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, on median earnings of $52,093 vs $37,180 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Metropolitan State University of Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,745 | $15,327 |
| Total net cost | $66,980 | $61,308 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,180 | $52,093 |
| Median debt | $29,832 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | 16.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$290,580 | $13,352 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Metropolitan State University of Denver, at $15,327 a year after aid versus $16,745 — a gap of $1,418 a year, or $5,672 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 Technical University-Colorado Springs or Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates earn more?
Metropolitan State University of Denver graduates report a median $52,093 ten years after entry, $14,913 more than the $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. 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 Technical University-Colorado Springs or Metropolitan State University of Denver?
Metropolitan State University of Denver: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $8,332. 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?
32% of students finish at Metropolitan State University of Denver, against 19% at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. 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.