Metropolitan State University

Admission to Metropolitan State University is essentially open, presenting minimal barriers to entry for applicants. In 2025, the university reported an acceptance rate of 98.7%, which was higher than 99% of peer schools among public national universities. The institution also maintains a steady conversion of admitted applicants, posting a yield rate of 33.8% in 2025. In the US News ranking of national universities, the school was ranked 293 in 2020 and 299 in 2022, but does not carry a published rank in the 2027 edition. For applicants, these figures mean that securing a spot is nearly certain for those who apply, while the yield rate shows that a noticeable share of admitted students chooses to attend. Families evaluating their college options should recognize that while admission is straightforward, institutional drawing power reflects its role as an accessible regional institution.

Admissions at Metropolitan State University are broadly accessible, with academic screening focused on baseline preparation. In 2025, 6% of enrolled students submitted ACT scores, providing a clear benchmark for academic expectations. Among those who reported scores, the middle 50% composite ACT score ranged between 16.0 at the 25th percentile and 21.0 at the 75th percentile. Both the English and Math section scores centered around comparable levels, demonstrating that the university serves students with modest standardized testing profiles. For prospective students evaluating their academic profile, a composite ACT score in the upper teens or around 21.0 aligns directly with the typical range of enrolled test takers. These figures suggest that applicants do not encounter unusually high standardized testing hurdles during the admissions review. Instead, families should view these ranges as an indicator of general college readiness, where meeting foundational academic standards positions a student well within the school's typical applicant population.

Undergraduate degree conferrals at Metropolitan State University are moderately distributed, with the three largest majors accounting for 25.5% of the 1,378 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. Business Administration and Management led all bachelor's programs with 141 graduates, followed by general psychology, interdisciplinary studies, and computer science. None of the university's major programs hold top national standing; in the 2027 U.S. News departmental listings, undergraduate computer science placed at 452, psychology at 570, and nursing at 589. Despite modest academic rankings, technical and healthcare programs demonstrate strong regional earnings outcomes. In 2023 earnings data recorded one year after completion, bachelor's recipients in registered nursing earned a median salary of $82,260, while computer science graduates secured a median of $73,615. For applicants choosing a field of study, degree tracks in health and technology deliver dependable professional earnings even without elite national program ranks.

The student body at Metropolitan State University is characterized by non-traditional adult learners and transfer students rather than traditional incoming freshmen. Continuing undergraduates constitute the largest segment of the student body. Within this continuing group, Asian students represent a meaningful demographic presence, totaling 574 students and accounting for 15.6% of the cohort. By contrast, international enrollment remains quite small across campus; among continuing undergraduates, overseas students number just 62, making up 1.7% of that population. First-time freshmen and graduate degree seekers comprise much smaller segments, and international presence in those groups is similarly limited. For applicants, this structure reflects an institution rooted in the local community. Prospective international students should recognize that foreign classmates are few, whereas domestic diversity is visible across various undergraduate academic tracks.

The age distribution at Metropolitan State University reveals a campus community composed primarily of mature adult learners. Among the 5,260 undergraduates reported by age in 2025, students aged 22 to 24 formed the largest single cohort at 23.2%, followed by those aged 25 to 29 at 20.2%. Undergraduates aged 20 to 21 represented just 13.9% of the undergraduate body. Graduate enrollment among its 731 students is similarly adult-centered, with students aged 30 to 34 making up the largest share at 22.7%. These numbers show that campus life revolves around working adults balancing degree progress with career and family commitments.

International students represent a modest and narrowing proportion of the student body at Metropolitan State University. At the undergraduate level, international enrollment has trended downward over time, with the international student share declining to 1.6% by 2025. At the graduate level, international representation has similarly contracted, dropping to 6.3% in 2025. When examining completed degrees, international graduates show distinct concentrations in career-oriented fields rather than broad distribution across programs. At the undergraduate level, international participation is most visible in Business Administration and Management, General, where international students comprised 8.5% of degree recipients. At the graduate level, international concentration is pronounced in Information Technology, where foreign scholars accounted for 36.8% of master's degree graduates, while traditional disciplines like general business and nursing enrolled almost none. For prospective international applicants, these patterns suggest that while campus-wide international student support networks may be modest, specific departments such as graduate information technology offer established pathways with peer presence.

Several higher education institutions are located near Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities area, offering distinct academic environments. Macalester College is an undergraduate liberal arts college situated 4.8 kilometers away, ranked 28 among national liberal arts colleges in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Also nearby in Saint Paul is the University of St Thomas, a national university located 5.7 kilometers from campus and holding rank 156. Across the river in Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities represents the state's flagship public national university, positioned 7.9 kilometers away with a 2027 ranking of 59. Additionally, Bethel University lies 8.1 kilometers away, ranked 236 among national universities. These surrounding institutions provide alternative public and private degree options within a short radius.

Campus safety data at Metropolitan State University reflects typical patterns for an urban setting. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 4.4. Looking across the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, reported safety incidents were primarily centered on property offenses and occasional personal altercations. Motor vehicle theft constituted the largest single category, totaling 11 incidents over that period. During the same 2023 to 2025 timeframe, campus records logged 8 assaults, while other offenses such as robberies, weapons arrests, and drug infractions occurred in smaller numbers. For prospective students and families, these statistics indicate that while serious offenses occur infrequently, property crime such as vehicle theft is a primary concern. Commuters and students should exercise everyday awareness, especially when parking vehicles or walking around urban campus areas during evening hours.