Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Saint Paul, Minnesota
96.5% Acceptance Rate
Metropolitan State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
96.5%Acceptance Rate
1020Avg SAT
20Avg ACT
$26,057Annual Cost
$64,705Grad Salary
44.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
96.5%
Avg SAT
1020
Avg ACT
20
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
980–1050
ACT Middle 50%
16–23
Avg Net Price
$19,181
Need-Based Aid
44.3% receive Pell
Metropolitan State University is a public, metropolitan institution in Minnesota that is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of a diverse, urban, and working student population. Admissions prioritize professional readiness, academic preparedness, and potential for community contribution. The university seeks motivated students who are ready to balance their academic responsibilities with professional planning and who are eager to leverage the university's industry-linked curriculum.
Prospective students should highlight their maturity, career focus, and consistency in academic work. Demonstrating a clear approach to one's future professional goals is key, as the university emphasizes connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences. The admissions committee values applicants who are proactive, focused, and ready to participate in a collaborative campus culture that prioritizes student success and the development of the whole person within a supportive, urban academic setting.
Metropolitan State University Acceptance Rate
Metropolitan State University runs an open-access admission policy — with a 96.5% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 96.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Metropolitan State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Metropolitan State University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Metropolitan State University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Metropolitan State University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Metropolitan State University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Metropolitan State University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Metropolitan State University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Metropolitan State University Without SAT or ACT?
Metropolitan State University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Metropolitan State University Average SAT Score: 1020
The average SAT score of admitted students at Metropolitan State University is 1020 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1020 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1050 SAT or 23 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Metropolitan State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 980, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Metropolitan State University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1020 | 980 | 1050 |
Below 980, you're behind most admitted students; at 1050 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into Metropolitan State University with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of Metropolitan State University's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Metropolitan State University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Metropolitan State University is 20.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 20 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 20 | 16 | 24 |
| ACT English | 19 | 14 | 23 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 16 | 23 |
Can I get into Metropolitan State University with a 23 ACT?
A 23 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Metropolitan State University's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Metropolitan State University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Metropolitan State University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Metropolitan State University's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Propose a custom major through the College of Individualized Studies
Metro State lets students design their own interdisciplinary bachelor's or master's degree rather than forcing them into a fixed catalog major. If a student's interests genuinely cross departments (e.g., health policy + urban studies), have them contact an Individualized Studies advisor early to draft a formal degree plan - this is a real structural option most peer universities don't offer, not a generic "follow your passion" pitch.
File for Prior Learning Assessment credit before registering for a full course load
Metro State recognizes credit for prior learning, CLEP, and DANTES exams alongside dual credit and AP. Adult and working-adult applicants - Metro State's core population - should inventory military training, professional certifications, and relevant work experience and submit a PLA petition in their first term, since this can directly cut both time-to-degree and cost in a way traditional 18-year-old applicants at other schools can't access.
Use MetroConnect if transferring from a Minnesota State community college
Through MetroConnect, students at partner Minnesota State two-year colleges can complete select Metro State bachelor's degrees without physically relocating to the Twin Cities campus. Community college transfer students should confirm with their current advisor whether their program is a MetroConnect pathway - it changes both the application process and the degree-completion timeline.
Name the NSA cyber designation or the Accounting program's CPA record explicitly in your application materials
Metro State holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education recognition, and its BS in Accounting is the largest program of its kind in Minnesota, with graduates consistently placing in the state's top-10 CPA exam finishers. Career-focused applicants to these specific programs should reference these facts directly in their statement of purpose - admissions and program advisors respond to applicants who've clearly researched the program's actual standing, not generic "strong reputation" language.
Expert Insight:
Families sometimes assume Metro State functions like a traditional four-year campus experience. It has no on-campus housing at all, and most courses run in evening, weekend, or online formats built around working adults' schedules - a student expecting a conventional daytime residential college life will be structurally mismatched here regardless of how strong their application is.
Metropolitan State University Profile
Full Name
Metropolitan State University
City
Saint Paul
State
Minnesota
ZIP Code
55106-5000
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Metropolitan State University Degree Worth It?
At $26,057/year against a $64,705 median graduate salary, Metropolitan State University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $70,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.99%.
How much does a degree from Metropolitan State University Cost?
The sticker price is $26,057/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $19,181.
44.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 33.7% take federal loans at Metropolitan State University — file your FAFSA early and list Metropolitan State University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Metropolitan State University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $64,705 — about 59% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Metropolitan State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Metropolitan State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Metropolitan State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Metropolitan State University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Metropolitan State University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Metropolitan State University run about $64,705 a year.
At about $26,057 a year, Metropolitan State University is on the more affordable end.
About 44.3% receive a Pell Grant at Metropolitan State University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 96.5%, Metropolitan State University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Metropolitan State University — aim above 1020, ideally within the 980–1050 range admitted students typically fall in.
Metropolitan State University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The application fee is 20. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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