By design, MSU Denver is required to be accessible to all, which is why it consistently has some of the lowest tuitions of four-year Colorado colleges and universities.

[6] MSU Denver was the first university to advocate for DREAMers to have a chance at higher education by providing in-state tuition rates under the ASSET bill, signed by then Gov.

[18] Metropolitan State University of Denver is also home to a variety of projects, research centers, and institutes.

Several programs and units are accredited by disciplinary-specific organizations, including: Colloquially referred to as Metro State, MSU Denver formally became a university on April 18, 2012.

MSU Denver competed as a NAIA member until 1983, when the Roadrunners jumped to the NCAA Division II ranks.

Since 1998, MSU Denver has captured 32 regular season conference titles, 35 conference tournament championships, as well as the 2000 & 2002 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships and the 2004 and 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer national crowns.