Metropolitan State University
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$39,120
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$19,828/yr
vs high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
2 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
914%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Metropolitan State University's in-state tuition costs $9,780. One year after graduation, alumni earn a median of $53,416. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $54,828, and after ten years, earnings reach $64,705. The median debt for graduates is $17,100, and 33.7% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the first-year earnings, is approximately 0.32. This indicates that the median debt is about 32% of the first-year earnings.
To calculate the break-even point, the tuition cost is divided by the difference between the first-year earnings and the tuition cost. Based on these figures, the approximate break-even point is less than one year.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$9,780
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,100
Median Earnings (5yr)
$54,828
Graduation Rate
36%
Receive Financial Aid
34%
Avg Aid Amount
$0
Program-Level ROI
| Program | 4yr Cost | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $39,120 | $60,931 | 1226% |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | $39,120 | $52,538 | 797% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $39,120 | $83,925 | 2401% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $39,120 | $52,541 | 797% |
| Psychology, General. | $39,120 | $44,425 | 382% |
| Accounting and Related Services. | $39,120 | $59,850 | 1170% |
| Human Services, General. | $39,120 | $48,069 | 568% |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | $39,120 | $56,894 | 1019% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $39,120 | $76,804 | 2037% |
| Social Work. | $39,120 | $47,860 | 557% |
| Information Science/Studies. | $39,120 | $74,311 | 1910% |
| Biology, General. | $39,120 | $50,242 | 679% |
Peer Comparison
914%
20yr ROI
1092%
20yr ROI
507%
20yr ROI
683%
20yr ROI
794%
20yr ROI
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.