Cost of attendance

Cost of Attendance includes an estimate of the total average cost to attend Metropolitan State University for the fall and spring semesters. The Cost of Attendance includes tuition, books, supplies, loan fees, an allowance for living expenses, transportation and personal expenses. The living expenses, transportation and personal expense estimates are derived using the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Indexes of Comparative Costs, both produced by the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics and downloaded from the College Board.

This is not the amount students pay the university, but rather an estimate of the cost to cover the above items. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by a congressionally-mandated formula used when the FAFSA is completed. It is the eligibility indicator used to calculate many financial aid need-based awards. Factors considered in the EFC include income, assets, family size and number of family members attending college. Financial aid eligibility for need-based awards is calculated by taking the cost of attendance and subtracting the EFC.

Need-based awards include, but are not limited to, Federal Pell Grants, the Minnesota State Grant and subsidized Direct Loan. Non-need based awards include, but are not limited to, unsubsidized Direct Loans and other private student loans.

NOTE: A student's financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Also, the tuition, fees and living expense amounts in the tables below are averages and may not be the same as your actual charges.

Estimated cost of attendance, 2023–24

Estimated cost of attendance budgets for the 2023–24 academic year.