Metro State has 24,000 students. It started offering master’s degrees in accounting and teacher education last fall. It will start offering a master’s degree in social work this fall.

More than 80 percent of students, staff and community members asked about the name of Metropolitan State College of Denver agreed it needed to be changed.

When school officials asked students what name they would like, 36 percent said Denver State University, 32 percent said Metropolitan State University of Denver and 16.7 percent said University of Central Colorado.

The idea now goes to state lawmakers, who will have to write and pass a bill to make the change official.

Those who voted for Denver State University as the school's new name said the name reflected a higher quality institution, it was shorter and easier to say, it highlighted the word Denver and it eliminated confusion with community college.