Community College of Denver — ROI, Cost & Payback
Community College of Denver charges a net price of $9,450/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $18,900. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,095, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Community College of Denver does not clear its cost — it ranks #29 of 50 Colorado colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,450/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $18,900 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $39,095 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,265/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,495 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$204,200 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Community College of Denver's own numbers. Net price $9,450 × 2 years = $18,900 total. Median earnings $39,095 fall $9,265 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $18,900 bill in about 1.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Community College of Denver students graduate with?
A median $12,495 in federal loans among completers, or 32% of the $39,095 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Community College of Denver students graduate?
20% finish their degree — 80% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $18,900 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $94,500 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Community College of Denver expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?
Its $9,450 net price runs $7,018 below the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, and $14,035 less across the full degree.