Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public four-year university serving more than 17,000 students — predominantly first-generation, students of color, and working adults — through affordable tuition, HSI-designated programs, and employer-integrated career pathways.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Metropolitan State University of Denver does
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) is a public four-year university founded in 1965 and located on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, Colorado. It operates as a modified open-access state institution serving more than 17,000 students across 90+ undergraduate majors, 10+ graduate programs, and 48 certificate/micro-credential offerings organized through six academic colleges. The student body is composed of approximately 57% students of color and 57% first-generation college students, with an average undergraduate age of 24.9, reflecting its focus on working adults and non-traditional learners. MSU Denver holds federal Hispanic-Serving Institution designation (since February 2019) and is the only Colorado institution to hold the Seal of Excelencia.
The university's core academic product is delivered through standard educational technology platforms (Banner for student information, conventional LMS for online learning, RAVE Mobile Safety for emergency notifications), with no proprietary technology stack. Its distinctive platform is the Classroom to Career Hub, which connects students with more than 5,000 Colorado employer partners for internships and workforce-pipeline opportunities; 2,682 students completed work-based learning in 2024-25. Supporting services include TRIO, the Access Center, Counseling Center, Health Center at Auraria, Immigrant Services, LGBTQ Resource Center, and Veteran and Military Student Services, alongside specialized institutes such as the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute, the Affordable Housing Institute, and a Cybersecurity Center.
MSU Denver's revenue model is a hybrid of tuition and fees (average in-state out-of-pocket ~$2,600 annually, with Roadrunner Promise covering full tuition for ~5,000 undergraduates and a Tuition Lock guarantee capping price increases), state and federal appropriations, grants (~$4.3M annually across programmatic areas), and private philanthropy via the MSU Denver Foundation (Roadrunners Rise campaign targeting $100M). The institution is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor of Colorado and is led by President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. (since 2017). The state-funded operating model, modified open-access admissions, and downtown Denver location collectively define a price-leader, social-mobility-positioned institution with employer-integrated career outcomes rather than a research-intensive or selective-admission peer.
Metropolitan State University of Denver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Legal name
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Website
- https://msudenver.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public four-year university serving more than 17,000 students — predominantly first-generation, students of color, and working adults — through affordable tuition, HSI-designated programs, and employer-integrated career pathways.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metropolitan State University of Denver industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Metropolitan State University of Denver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Metropolitan State University of Denver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees. In-state students pay approximately $2,428 average annual out-of-pocket cost for tuition and fees. The university offers Roadrunner Promise covering full tuition for eligible students.
- State and Federal Appropriations: Public funding from Colorado state appropriations and federal government funding for student aid, research grants, and Title III/HSI programs.
- Grants and Sponsored Programs: Approximately $4.3 million in grants secured across diverse programmatic areas including student support, adult education, cybersecurity, STEM education, mental health workforce development, and family literacy programs.
- Private Philanthropy: The Roadrunners Rise campaign aims to raise $100 million. Alumni donations and charitable contributions generate additional revenue supporting student programs and institutional priorities.
- Campus Spending Impact: Student, faculty, staff, and visitor spending on campus contributes to economic impact of $953.8 million annually to Colorado's economy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | In-state undergraduate tuition approximately $2,600 annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Roadrunner Promise covers full tuition for eligible students |
| Subscription | Annual | Tuition Lock guarantee caps tuition increases |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Metropolitan State University of Denver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public university offering undergraduate majors, graduate degrees, and certificate programs across six academic colleges. It serves over 17,000 students with career-connected learning through its Classroom to Career Hub, dual enrollment for high school students, and online/hybrid learning options.
Product overview
Metropolitan State University of Denver operates as a traditional public university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services organized through six academic colleges. The core academic offerings include over 100 undergraduate majors and minors, more than 10 graduate degree programs, and 48 certificate and micro-credential programs spanning specialized fields such as Aviation and Aerospace Science, Brewery Operations, Fire and Emergency Management, and Industrial Design. The university's distinctive Classroom to Career Hub serves as the central career development platform, connecting students with employers and experiential learning opportunities. The Gina and Frank Day Health Institute represents a collaborative initiative across ten health-related departments. Student support services (Access Center, Counseling Center, Health Center, TRIO programs, Veteran services) function as integrated support modules complementing the academic core. Online and hybrid learning programs, dual enrollment offerings, and the Affordable Housing Institute and Cybersecurity Center extend the portfolio into specialized educational niches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 91% of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Metropolitan State University of Denver
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Metropolitan State University of Denver technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Metropolitan State University of Denver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 5,000+ Colorado EmployerscoreMSU Denver maintains partnerships with more than 5,000 employers throughout Colorado. These employer partnerships support the Classroom to Career Hub, providing students with internships, experiential learning opportunities, and direct pathways to employment. The university works with industry leaders to inform curriculum and ensure graduates have workforce-ready skills.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Metropolitan State University of Denver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Colorado Denver: Public urban research university located in downtown Denver (Auraria Higher Education Center). Directly comparable as a public, urban-serving Denver institution with overlapping health sciences, business, and engineering programs targeting a similar Colorado-resident demographic.
- University of Northern Colorado: Another Colorado public university serving a similar population of first-generation, working adult, and diverse learners. Comparable on mission (accessible public higher education), enrollment scale, and Colorado regional footprint.
- Adams State University: Colorado regional public university that is also a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Comparable as a smaller, mission-driven public university serving significant Hispanic populations and rural Colorado.
- Fort Lewis College: Colorado public liberal arts-focused university also designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Comparable as a Colorado public institution with strong Hispanic enrollment and access-oriented mission.
- Community College of Denver: Two-year public institution also located on the Auraria Campus. Direct peer as the primary community college feeding into MSU Denver's top transfer destination program, serving overlapping downtown Denver learners.
Broad incumbents
- Colorado State University: Larger flagship Colorado public university and land-grant research institution with broader program portfolio. Comparable as a public Colorado competitor for in-state students, though MSU Denver is more urban-serving and accessible.
- Regis University: Private Jesuit university in the Denver metro with comparable career and health programs. Comparable as a Denver-area institution recruiting overlapping working-adult and undergraduate populations, though private pricing model differs.
- University of Denver: Private research university in Denver offering graduate and undergraduate programs. Comparable as a Denver metro institution competing for the same regional student pool, though positioned at a more selective and higher-cost tier.
Regional players
- Front Range Community College: Colorado community college system serving the northern Denver metro (Larimer, Westminster, Brighton, Fort Collins). Comparable as a low-cost entry point competing for non-traditional and adult learners but operating in adjacent geography.
Emerging players
- Western Governors University: Online-only, competency-based nonprofit university targeting working adults with flexible, affordable degree pathways. Comparable as a competitor for the same working-adult, online-modality segment of Colorado and national learners, though entirely online and direct employer-funded.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metropolitan State University of Denver social profiles
Digital presenceMetropolitan State University of Denver compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Metropolitan State University of Denver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metropolitan State University of Denver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Metropolitan State University of Denver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metropolitan State University of Denver M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan State University of Denver
What does Metropolitan State University of Denver do?
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public university offering undergraduate majors, graduate degrees, and certificate programs across six academic colleges. It serves over 17,000 students with career-connected learning through its Classroom to Career Hub, dual enrollment for high school students, and online/hybrid learning options.
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver a public or private company?
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Metropolitan State University of Denver founded?
Metropolitan State University of Denver was founded in 1965.
Where is Metropolitan State University of Denver based?
Metropolitan State University of Denver is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Metropolitan State University of Denver make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state and Federal Appropriations, grants and Sponsored Programs, private Philanthropy and campus Spending Impact.
Who are Metropolitan State University of Denver's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Colorado Denver, University of Northern Colorado, Adams State University, Fort Lewis College and Community College of Denver. Broad incumbents are Colorado State University, Regis University and University of Denver. Front Range Community College is listed as a regional player. Western Governors University is listed as an emerging player.
Does Metropolitan State University of Denver have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metropolitan State University of Denver.
What industry is Metropolitan State University of Denver in?
Metropolitan State University of Denver's product category is Public Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAH, Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.