Metropolitan State University of Denver Scholarships (2025–2026)

What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

If you’re a Colorado family looking at college options, MSU Denver stands out for its mix of affordability and big-city opportunities. Thanks to tuition discounts like WUE and RIT, plus scholarships that range from automatic online awards to ROTC full rides, parents don’t have to guess what’s possible. This page breaks down real costs, aid, and perks in plain English—so you can compare smartly with our Colorado state aid guide and the main College Scholarships Hub.

💰 Cost of Attendance at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Category	Colorado Resident	Non-Resident
Tuition & Mandatory Fees	$9,403	$25,602
Housing & Meals (average)	$17,658	$17,658
Books, Travel, Personal, Insurance	$7,638	$7,638
Total (before aid)	≈ $34,699	≈ $50,898

Average Net Price: $14,294 per year (U.S. Dept. of Education). That’s what families actually paid after scholarships and grants—loans not included.

Regional Tuition Discounts: MSU Denver participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and its own Roadrunner Interstate Tuition (RIT) program.

• WUE/RIT students pay about $17,366 in tuition instead of $25,602.
• That means families save roughly $8,200 per year compared to the full non-resident rate.
• Savings apply automatically once residency and program eligibility are confirmed by MSU Denver.

Who qualifies for WUE/RIT?
Students from participating Western states (WUE) or approved neighboring states (RIT), depending on residency and enrollment status.

How much can you save?
Around $8,000+ per year compared to the standard non-resident tuition rate.

Do you have to apply separately?
No separate scholarship form is required. The discount is tied to your residency status and is applied by MSU Denver when you’re admitted and coded correctly.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Online Student Scholarship	$1,000 first term taking online classes; $500 per term thereafter while fully online	Enroll in a fully online course load each term (credit minimums per program apply). Not based on test scores.	No	Yes — continues at $500/term while you remain fully online	Students who schedule all classes online each term; simple and predictable for online enrollees.
RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships	Up to $4,000 total for freshmen (typically $1,000/yr; $500/term); Up to $2,000 total for transfers	Complete a RaiseMe profile by the stated deadline (e.g., July 1 for freshmen), follow MSU Denver, meet GPA and enrollment requirements (e.g., 2.8+ HS GPA; 6+ credits/term), and file FAFSA/CASFA.	Yes — via RaiseMe profile steps	Yes — maintain ~2.0+ MSU GPA and 6+ credits/term	Students who bank micro-awards during high school or the transfer pathway and finish the profile + deadlines.

Note: MSU Denver does not publish a university-wide GPA/ACT/SAT tier grid for automatic freshman merit. Most other institutional awards are reviewed through the General Scholarship Application and appear in the Competitive or Hidden Gems sections.

Automatic Merit FAQs

Do I need a separate application?
Online Student Scholarship: No — it’s applied based on your fully online enrollment each term.
RaiseMe: Yes — complete your RaiseMe profile and follow MSU Denver by the published deadlines.

Are test scores required or superscored for these?
These automatic options are not test-based. MSU Denver is broadly test-optional for admission. No separate superscore policy applies to the Online or RaiseMe awards.

Can these stack with WUE/RIT or other scholarships?
In general, tuition-rate programs like WUE/RIT don’t “stack” with other tuition-changing waivers, but many scholarships (like RaiseMe or departmental awards) can stack. Always check each award’s terms for stacking rules.

Are there priority dates I could miss?
Yes — RaiseMe has hard profile deadlines (e.g., July 1 for freshmen). For broader MSU Denver scholarships, the General Scholarship Application typically opens around Dec 1 with a priority deadline near March 1.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

MSU Denver runs almost all of its selective, university-level scholarships through the General Scholarship Application. Unlike some large flagships, it does not publish a list of big-name competitive merit awards (such as full-ride or full-tuition packages). Students are considered for a wide variety of donor-funded and institutional awards once they complete the General Application, but those awards are not pre-announced in a way that allows us to chart them here.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
No competitive, university-wide merit scholarships are published for 2025–2026.

Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does MSU Denver offer full-ride or full-tuition merit scholarships?
No — the university does not list large, named competitive merit packages. Most scholarships are smaller, donor-based awards through the General Scholarship Application.

How do students compete for scholarships if there are no big named awards?
By completing the General Scholarship Application (open Dec 1 with a priority deadline near March 1), students are considered for a wide range of smaller, competitive scholarships based on essays, GPA, or leadership fit.

Are separate applications required?
For most university-level scholarships, no — one General Scholarship Application covers many awards. A few specialty programs may require extra steps, but those are handled outside of the competitive merit category.

Are departmental or Honors awards included here?
No. Departmental scholarships and Honors Program awards are covered in the Hidden Gems and Honors sections of this guide.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

Not every scholarship at MSU Denver is tied to admission. Some programs quietly reduce the cost of a degree through service, identity-based awards, or unique campus opportunities. These can often be stacked with other aid.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Army ROTC (via CU Boulder host)	Covers full tuition & fees; $1,200/yr books; ~$420/month stipend	MSU Denver students in Army ROTC through CU Boulder host; must meet Army GPA, fitness, and service standards	Yes — national ROTC application	Yes — maintain academic and fitness requirements	Students pursuing an Army commission with solid academics and leadership potential
Air Force ROTC (Detachment 105, CU Boulder)	Covers tuition/fees, plus book stipend and monthly allowance (varies by award type)	MSU Denver students enrolled as crosstown cadets; must meet AFROTC GPA, fitness, and service standards	Yes — AFROTC scholarship application	Yes — maintain GPA and officer development standards	Students committed to commissioning with strong academics and physical readiness
Band Excellence Endowed Scholarship	$500–$2,000 per year	Students actively participating in MSU Denver band	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	Usually No (one-year award)	Committed band members with solid performance and contribution
Mariachi Performance Endowed Scholarship	$500–$2,000 per year	Students focused on mariachi performance	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	Usually No	Students demonstrating skill and dedication in mariachi ensembles
Paul Farkas Memorial English Scholarship	$500–$1,500	English majors with strong academic achievement	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	No	English majors with GPA around 3.0+ and faculty recommendations
Beverly J. Fourcade Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship	$1,000–$3,000	Students admitted to the Nursing major	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	Varies by fund	Upper-level Nursing students with GPA ~3.0+ and clinical performance
Affordable Housing Scholarship	$1,000–$2,500	Students pursuing majors or projects related to affordable housing	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	No	Students showing interest in housing policy, community development, or urban planning
Urban Leadership Program (ULP)	$1,000–$3,000 plus leadership training	Students selected for ULP cohort; must commit to leadership development program	Yes — separate ULP application	Yes — contingent on program participation	Students demonstrating leadership potential and commitment to urban community issues
Stephen & Ruth Jordan Endowed Scholarship for Leadership	$1,000–$2,000	Seniors with high GPA (≈3.5+) and documented leadership experience	Yes — via General Scholarship Application	No	Graduating seniors recognized for both academic strength and campus/community leadership
First-Generation Leadership Program	$500–$1,500 plus leadership support	Incoming first-generation students selected into the program	Yes — program application	Yes — as long as program participation continues	First-gen students who show leadership potential and commitment to personal development

Disclaimer: Award ranges are based on typical departmental and leadership program postings. Exact dollar amounts can change annually depending on funding and applicant pool.

Suzor Family Club Ice Hockey Endowed Scholarship — for students on the club ice hockey team
Taekwondo Endowed Scholarship — for students involved in Taekwondo

Hidden Gems FAQs

Can ROTC scholarships stack with other aid?
Yes — ROTC scholarships cover tuition/fees. Other aid (like Pell Grants or donor scholarships) can often be applied to housing, meals, or personal expenses.

Are GITA awards only for gender studies majors?
No. While many recipients are in gender-related fields, students from other majors who are active in advocacy or aligned projects are also competitive.

What does the Student Travel Program actually cover?
It usually reimburses airfare, lodging, or conference registration for students who are presenting or professionally participating. Amounts vary based on destination and budget.

How do I make sure I’m considered?
Apply early through the relevant office (ROTC, GITA, Student Travel). These programs often have fixed windows or rolling deadlines, and funds may run out mid-year.

⭐ College Specialty

If you ask Denver employers what MSU Denver grads bring to the table, they’ll point to hands-on skills in industries that matter to Colorado’s economy. From aerospace labs to on-campus restaurants and breweries, programs here are built around direct pipelines to jobs. That makes MSU Denver less about prestige labels and more about what you can do the day after graduation.

Standout Program:
🏭 Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing — Home to the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute, with a $1M Lockheed Martin additive manufacturing lab and an Aerospace & Engineering Sciences building that connects directly to Colorado’s growing space industry.

Hospitality, Tourism & Events — Recognized statewide for its SpringHill Suites® hotel and on-campus restaurant/brewpub, giving students real-world hospitality management experience.
Brewery Operations — One of the only four-year Brewing Industry programs in the U.S., featuring the Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab and partnerships across Colorado’s craft beer sector.
Teacher Education — MSU Denver is consistently among the top producers of teacher graduates in Colorado, preparing more licensed educators than most universities in the state.
Criminal Justice & Criminology — Noted in state workforce reports as one of Colorado’s largest pipelines into law enforcement and justice careers.

🎖️ Honors College

MSU Denver doesn’t run a traditional “Honors College” with its own scholarships and separate tuition, but it does offer a selective Honors Program. This track is designed for students who want smaller seminars, priority registration, and the chance to complete a senior research or creative project alongside faculty mentors. Admission isn’t automatic — you apply with essays that show curiosity, leadership, and readiness to go beyond standard coursework.

What a Typical MSU Denver Honors Student Looks Like:
Around a 3.5+ GPA in high school or college*, strong writing samples, evidence of leadership or community involvement, and a willingness to take on a senior thesis or capstone project.
*Exact GPA cutoffs are not published; this is based on typical profiles.

Why the Honors Program Matters:

Priority course registration to help you graduate on time
Access to the Honors House and a tight-knit student community
Small, discussion-based classes across disciplines
Funding support for research and travel tied to your senior project
Special recognition on your transcript and diploma

Honors Program FAQs

Is admission automatic?
No. Students apply separately and are evaluated primarily on their essay responses and academic record.

Does the Honors Program add time to my degree?
No — projects and seminars are designed to fit within your existing major requirements.

Are there extra scholarships for Honors students?
Not directly. While Honors provides perks and research funding, major scholarships at MSU Denver are handled through the General Scholarship Application and departmental funds.

When should I apply?
Applications typically open in the spring for the following fall cohort. Early submission is encouraged since spaces are limited.

📎 Official Links

Final Thoughts

MSU Denver may not hand out flashy full-ride awards, but its mix of affordable tuition, WUE/RIT discounts, and practical hidden-gem scholarships makes it one of Colorado’s most accessible urban universities. Parents will appreciate the clear costs and the pathways — from ROTC to leadership programs — that can chip away at the bill. If your student thrives in a hands-on, career-ready environment, this is a school worth a close look.

✅ Last updated: September 10, 2025