Aims Community College vs Lincoln College of Technology-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln College of Technology-Denver comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $129,692 total, vs $41,887 at Aims Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aims Community College | Lincoln College of Technology-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,463 | $32,423 |
| Total net cost | $45,852 | $129,692 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,887 | $46,396 |
| Median debt | $6,844 | $11,730 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,312 | -$168,972 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aims Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Denver?
Aims Community College, at $11,463 a year after aid versus $32,423 — a gap of $20,960 a year, or $83,840 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aims Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $4,509 more than the $41,887 at Aims Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Aims Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Denver?
Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $11,730 at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver, a difference of $4,886. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver, against 40% at Aims Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.