Metropolitan State University academics, total cost (incl. room & board, books, tuition, etc.), jobs, tuition, campus, athletics, enrollment, graduate programs, degrees, notable alumni, and everything else prospective students need to know
Nestled in the heart of Minnesota's Twin Cities, a university exists that defies conventional expectations about what higher education should look like. Metropolitan State University emerged from the radical notion that working adults deserved access to quality education without sacrificing their careers or family obligations. Born in 1971 during an era of educational experimentation, this institution has quietly revolutionized how thousands of Minnesotans—and increasingly, students from around the globe—approach their academic journeys.
I've spent considerable time examining Metro State's unique position in the higher education landscape, and what strikes me most isn't just its affordability or flexibility—though both are remarkable. It's the institution's stubborn refusal to treat education as a one-size-fits-all commodity. While other universities chase prestige rankings and build gleaming athletic facilities, Metro State has doubled down on something far more radical: actually serving the students who need it most.
The Academic Landscape at Metro State
Metropolitan State University operates on a philosophy that would make traditional academics squirm: competency-based education that values what you know over where you learned it. The university offers over 60 undergraduate programs and more than a dozen graduate degrees, but numbers alone don't tell the story. What makes Metro State distinctive is its approach to prior learning assessment—essentially, they'll give you college credit for knowledge you've gained through work experience, military service, or self-directed study.
The College of Liberal Arts houses programs ranging from Creative Writing to Ethnic Studies, while the College of Management has built a reputation for producing graduates who understand business from the inside out—because many of them were already working in their fields before they ever set foot in a classroom. The College of Sciences delivers rigorous programs in nursing, computer science, and law enforcement, among others. Meanwhile, the College of Community Studies and Public Affairs focuses on social work, human services, and criminal justice—fields where Metro State graduates often become the backbone of Minnesota's social infrastructure.
What I find particularly compelling about Metro State's academic approach is their commitment to individualized education plans. Unlike the cookie-cutter degree paths at many institutions, Metro State students often craft their own interdisciplinary programs. I've encountered graduates who combined psychology, business, and nonprofit management into degrees perfectly tailored for careers in social entrepreneurship—combinations that wouldn't be possible at more rigid institutions.
Breaking Down the Real Costs
Let's talk money, because pretending finances don't matter in education decisions is both naive and harmful. For Minnesota residents, undergraduate tuition at Metro State runs approximately $8,500 per year for full-time students—roughly half what you'd pay at the University of Minnesota's flagship campus. Non-residents face higher costs at around $16,000 annually, but even this represents significant savings compared to many out-of-state options.
But here's where Metro State's model really shines: most students don't pay for room and board because they're already living in their own homes. The university doesn't operate traditional dormitories, which eliminates a cost that typically adds $10,000-12,000 to annual college expenses. Books and supplies average around $1,000 per year, though savvy students often reduce this through rental programs and digital resources.
The total cost of attendance for a commuting Minnesota resident comes to roughly $11,000-13,000 annually, including all fees, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Compare that to the $25,000-30,000 total cost at many residential colleges, and you begin to understand why Metro State has become a lifeline for working-class and middle-class Minnesotans.
Graduate programs vary more widely in cost, with most master's degrees running between $450-550 per credit for residents. The MBA program, one of Metro State's crown jewels, costs approximately $20,000 total for in-state students—a fraction of what comparable programs charge at private institutions.
The Employment Equation
Metro State doesn't just prepare students for jobs—most of their students already have them. The average undergraduate is 34 years old, and over 80% work while attending school. This creates a fascinating dynamic where classroom discussions are informed by real-world experience, and theoretical concepts get tested against practical realities in real-time.
The university's career services operate differently than traditional placement offices. Instead of helping fresh-faced 22-year-olds write their first resumes, Metro State's counselors often work with students to leverage existing experience into career pivots or advancement. They maintain strong relationships with Twin Cities employers, particularly in healthcare, business services, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Recent data shows Metro State graduates see an average salary increase of 23% within two years of graduation—not because they're entering the workforce for the first time, but because their degrees unlock advancement opportunities in careers they've already begun. Nursing graduates routinely report starting salaries above $70,000, while business and technology graduates often move into management positions earning $60,000-80,000.
Campus Life for the Non-Traditional Student
Describing Metro State's campus requires abandoning traditional notions of quad-filled college grounds. The university operates from multiple locations across the Twin Cities, with the main facilities in Saint Paul's vibrant Midway neighborhood and downtown Minneapolis. The Saint Paul campus, built into a renovated retail space, embodies the university's practical approach—why construct ivory towers when functional, accessible spaces serve students better?
The Midway campus buzzes with activity during evening hours when most classes meet. The library stays open until 10 PM most nights, accommodating students who arrive after full workdays. Study spaces are designed for adult learners—comfortable chairs, plenty of outlets for laptops, and quiet zones for focused work. The campus includes a fitness center, though you won't find the elaborate recreation facilities common at residential universities.
What Metro State lacks in traditional amenities, it compensates for with location. The Saint Paul campus sits on the Green Line light rail, providing easy access to both downtown cores. Students can grab Vietnamese pho across the street, Ethiopian injera a few blocks away, or craft coffee from any of a dozen nearby cafes. It's urban education in the truest sense—the city itself becomes part of the campus experience.
Athletics and Activities: Redefining Engagement
Metropolitan State University doesn't field NCAA athletic teams, and mentioning this fact often provokes either relief or disappointment, depending on who you're talking to. The absence of costly athletic programs helps keep tuition low, but it also means Metro State lacks the tribal identity that sports can provide.
Instead, student engagement takes different forms. The university hosts over 40 student organizations, many focused on professional development or cultural identity. The Student Senate wields real influence over university policies, perhaps because its members bring professional governance experience from their work lives. Cultural organizations like the Hmong Student Association and Latino Student Union provide crucial community for Minnesota's diverse population.
Intramural sports exist but operate on a casual, drop-in basis. You're more likely to find students organizing informal volleyball games or weekend hiking groups than structured leagues. For many adult learners juggling work and family, this flexibility is a feature, not a bug.
Enrollment Patterns and Student Demographics
Metro State serves approximately 11,000 students, with about 7,500 undergraduates and 3,500 graduate students. But raw numbers obscure the institution's true character. The student body is 45% students of color—one of the highest percentages in Minnesota's state university system. Women comprise 57% of enrollment, and the average age hovers around 34 for undergraduates, 36 for graduate students.
Perhaps most tellingly, 62% of Metro State students are first-generation college attendees. These aren't kids following predetermined paths from suburban high schools to university dorms. They're adults who've decided—often after years in the workforce—that a degree could transform their lives. Many support children or aging parents while attending school. Some have attempted college before, accumulating credits at community colleges or other institutions before finding their academic home at Metro State.
The university's enrollment has grown steadily over the past decade, driven partly by online program expansion but also by word-of-mouth in Twin Cities communities. Somali immigrants tell cousins about nursing programs that accommodate their work schedules. Latino construction workers share information about construction management degrees. Hmong parents who achieved degrees return to recruit others from their communities.
Graduate Programs: Professional Advancement for Working Adults
Metro State's graduate programs deserve special attention because they exemplify the institution's mission. The MBA program, accredited by AACSB, focuses on practical application rather than theoretical modeling. Classes meet evenings and weekends, with hybrid options combining online and in-person instruction. Students typically complete the program in two to three years while maintaining full-time employment.
The Master of Public and Nonprofit Administration (MPNA) has quietly become one of the region's most respected programs for developing public sector leaders. Graduates populate leadership positions across Minnesota state government, major nonprofits, and municipal administrations. The curriculum emphasizes ethical leadership and community engagement—values that permeate Metro State's institutional culture.
Nursing programs at the graduate level include the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. These programs address Minnesota's critical shortage of advanced practice nurses, particularly in underserved communities. The university's emphasis on cultural competency produces nurses equipped to serve the state's increasingly diverse population.
The Master of Liberal Studies offers something rare in graduate education: the opportunity for working professionals to pursue advanced interdisciplinary study without vocational objectives. Students design their own curricula, combining courses from multiple disciplines to explore questions that transcend departmental boundaries.
Degrees That Reflect Real-World Needs
Metro State's degree offerings read like a map of 21st-century career paths. Sure, you'll find traditional programs in English, History, and Biology. But you'll also discover degrees in Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Cybersecurity, and Individualized Studies that let students create their own interdisciplinary programs.
The university pioneered competency-based education in Minnesota, allowing students to demonstrate knowledge through portfolios, examinations, and practical demonstrations rather than solely through seat time. This approach particularly benefits military veterans, who can translate leadership and technical training into college credits, and working professionals whose industry certifications count toward degree requirements.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program exemplifies Metro State's approach. Designed for working RNs with associate degrees, the program can be completed entirely online in as little as 12 months. Similarly, the dental hygiene completion program serves professionals seeking advancement without abandoning their practices.
Notable Alumni: Success Stories Beyond Traditional Metrics
Metro State's alumni don't typically grace Fortune 500 CEO lists or Hollywood red carpets. Their successes are quieter but no less significant. Kao Ly Ilean Her became the first Hmong woman elected to public office in Minnesota after earning her degree at Metro State. She now serves on the Saint Paul City Council, advocating for communities often overlooked by traditional power structures.
Keith Ellison, Minnesota's Attorney General and former U.S. Congressman, earned his paralegal certificate at Metro State before attending law school. His trajectory from working-class Detroit to national political prominence embodies the transformative potential of accessible education.
Dozens of Metro State graduates lead major nonprofits across the Twin Cities. Others have risen through corporate ranks at Target, 3M, and Best Buy—companies that value the practical skills and mature perspective Metro State graduates bring. Police chiefs, hospital administrators, and school principals across Minnesota hold Metro State degrees, often earned while working their way up through their organizations.
The Online Revolution and Flexible Learning
Metro State embraced online education not as a profit center but as a natural extension of its mission to serve working adults. Today, over 40% of courses offer online options, with some programs available entirely remotely. But this isn't the impersonal, video-lecture model of massive online courses. Metro State's online classes maintain the small class sizes and discussion-based learning that characterize on-campus experiences.
The university's approach to hybrid learning predated COVID-19 by years. Many courses meet in-person monthly or bi-weekly, with online components filling gaps between sessions. This model allows students from Greater Minnesota to access Metro State programs without relocating to the Twin Cities.
Technology integration goes beyond delivery methods. The university's cybersecurity program maintains state-of-the-art virtual labs where students can practice defending against real-world attacks. Business students access the same analytics software used by Fortune 500 companies. Nursing students utilize high-fidelity simulation labs that replicate clinical scenarios.
Support Services Designed for Adult Learners
Traditional universities often design support services around residential students who can visit offices during business hours. Metro State flips this model. Academic advising appointments are available evenings and weekends. Financial aid counselors understand the complexities of adult finances—mortgages, childcare costs, and employer tuition benefits.
The university's TRIO Student Support Services program specifically serves first-generation, low-income, and disabled students. Unlike similar programs at traditional universities that focus on retention from freshman to sophomore year, Metro State's version helps adults navigate the return to education after years or decades away.
Writing and math centers staff tutors who understand adult learning styles. Rather than assuming remedial needs indicate inability, tutors recognize that many adults simply need refreshers on skills they haven't used recently. The approach is respectful and practical—focused on quickly bringing students up to speed rather than dwelling on deficits.
Financial Aid and the True Cost of Opportunity
Metro State students navigate financial aid differently than traditional undergraduates. Many receive employer tuition benefits—the university maintains partnerships with major Twin Cities employers who subsidize employee education. Others rely on a complex mix of federal aid, state grants, and personal savings accumulated over working years.
The university's foundation provides emergency grants for students facing unexpected financial crises—car repairs, medical bills, or family emergencies that might otherwise force withdrawal. These grants, typically $500-1,500, can mean the difference between completing a semester and dropping out.
Work-study positions accommodate adult schedules, with many positions offering remote work options or flexible hours. Graduate assistantships provide not just financial support but professional experience aligned with career goals.
The Intangibles: Culture and Community
Spending time at Metro State reveals an institutional culture unlike any other Minnesota university. There's an egalitarian spirit born from shared struggle—everyone understands the juggling act required to balance education with adult responsibilities. Professors, many of whom come from professional backgrounds themselves, bring practical experience to their teaching.
The diversity isn't just statistical—it's lived and celebrated. Classroom discussions include perspectives from recent African immigrants, third-generation Minnesotans, military veterans, and everyone in between. Age diversity adds another dimension. Twenty-somethings learn alongside sixty-somethings, creating intergenerational dialogues rare in traditional academic settings.
There's also a refreshing absence of pretension. Nobody's trying to impress anyone with academic jargon or theoretical posturing. Discussions focus on application: How will this concept help me serve my clients better? How can this theory improve my organization? What does this mean for my community?
Challenges and Honest Assessment
Metro State isn't without challenges. The lack of residential facilities means missing out on certain traditional college experiences. Students seeking big-time athletics or Greek life should look elsewhere. Research opportunities exist but can't match those at research-intensive universities. The university's focus on teaching means fewer famous faculty conducting groundbreaking research.
Name recognition remains limited outside the Twin Cities. While regional employers deeply value Metro State graduates, the degree might not open doors as easily in distant markets. The flexible scheduling that benefits working adults can also make it harder to build close cohort relationships common in traditional programs.
Resources are stretched thin compared to wealthier institutions. While Metro State manages its budget efficiently, it can't match the per-student spending of private colleges or flagship state universities. This shows in areas like technology refresh cycles, facility amenities, and support staff ratios.
Making the Decision: Is Metro State Right for You?
Choosing Metro State requires honest self-assessment. If you're seeking the traditional residential college experience—football Saturdays, dormitory bonding, and four years of suspended reality—Metro State isn't your place. If prestige and name recognition top your priority list, consider other options.
But if you're a working adult seeking to complete a degree without abandoning your life, Metro State offers something precious: respect for your existing knowledge and commitments. If you value diversity—real diversity of age, race, experience, and perspective—few institutions match Metro State's authentic multiculturalism. If you need flexibility, affordability, and practical education aimed at career advancement, Metro State deserves serious consideration.
The university works best for self-directed learners comfortable with ambiguity. You won't be hand-held through a predetermined path. Instead, you'll craft your own journey with guidance from advisors and faculty who understand adult learning. Success requires initiative, time management, and the ability to integrate academic learning with life experience.
The Future of Metropolitan State University
Metro State stands at an interesting crossroads. As traditional universities struggle with declining enrollment and rising costs, Metro State's model looks increasingly prescient. The university has announced plans to expand online offerings while maintaining its commitment to place-based education for Twin Cities communities.
New programs in data analytics, user experience design, and sustainable business reflect evolving workforce needs. Partnerships with community colleges create clearer pathways for transfer students. The university's commitment to antiracism and social justice—always implicit in its mission—has become more explicit in curriculum and institutional practices.
Yet growth brings challenges. How does Metro State maintain its distinctive culture while serving more students? Can it preserve affordability while investing in necessary infrastructure? Will it resist the temptation to chase traditional metrics of success that might compromise its mission?
These questions matter because Metro State represents something important in American higher education: proof that universities can serve working adults effectively without exploiting them. In an era of student debt crisis and questioned value propositions, Metro State's model offers hope that education can remain a pathway to advancement rather than a burden to bear.
For prospective students reading this, know that choosing Metro State means joining a community that believes education should adapt to life, not the other way around. It means professors who understand when you email at midnight because that's when the kids finally went to bed. It means classmates who bring decades of experience to discussions. It means a degree that represents not just academic achievement but the triumph of persistence over circumstance.
Metro State won't give you ivy-covered walls or centuries of tradition. What it offers instead might be more valuable: an education designed for the life you're actually living, at a price that won't mortgage your future, in a community that celebrates your whole self. For thousands of Minnesotans, that's been more than enough. It's been transformational.
Authoritative Sources:
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. "Metropolitan State University Fact Book 2022-2023." Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, 2023. www.minnstate.edu/system/finance/budget/factbook/index.html
Metropolitan State University. "2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog." Metropolitan State University, 2023. catalog.metrostate.edu
Metropolitan State University. "Cost of Attendance." Metropolitan State University Financial Aid Office, 2023. www.metrostate.edu/cost
Metropolitan State University. "Graduate Programs." Metropolitan State University Graduate Studies, 2023. www.metrostate.edu/academics/graduate-programs
Minnesota Office of Higher Education. "Minnesota Measures: 2023 Report on Higher Education Performance." Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 2023. www.ohe.state.mn.us/minnesotaMeasures.cfm
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. "Metropolitan State University." National Center for Education Statistics, 2023. nces.ed.gov/ipeds
Metropolitan State University. "Student Demographics and Enrollment Data Fall 2023." Metropolitan State University Institutional Research, 2023. www.metrostate.edu/about/facts
Higher Learning Commission. "Metropolitan State University Assurance Review 2022." Higher Learning Commission, 2022. www.hlcommission.org
Metropolitan State University Foundation. "Annual Report 2022-2023." Metropolitan State University Foundation, 2023. www.metrostate.edu/foundation
AACSB International. "Metropolitan State University College of Management Accreditation Report." AACSB International, 2021. www.aacsb.edu