Aims Community College vs Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aims Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,887 against a $45,852 total, vs $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aims Community College | Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,463 | $22,022 |
| Total net cost | $45,852 | $88,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,887 | $27,683 |
| Median debt | $6,844 | $7,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,312 | -$501,628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aims Community College or Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Aims Community College, at $11,463 a year after aid versus $22,022 — a gap of $10,559 a year, or $42,236 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs graduates earn more?
Aims Community College graduates report a median $41,887 ten years after entry, $14,204 more than the $27,683 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs?
Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $7,667 at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs, a difference of $823. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs, 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.