A method for link adaptation at a base station using metric feedback is disclosed. The method can include the steps of communicating with a mobile station over a communication link having one or more sub-channels and during the communication, receiving from the mobile station a plurality of mutual information per coded bit metrics for a plurality of candidate modulation types per coding layer. The mutual information per coded bit metrics can be based on channel state knowledge of the sub-channels. Also, based on the received information, the operational performance of the mobile station can be predicted in view of one or more transmission parameters and performance factors and one or more of the transmission parameters, including a modulation type selected from one of the plurality of candidate modulation types per coding layer, can be selected based on a transmission condition of the communication link.