Aims Community College vs Western Colorado University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Western Colorado University comes closer — median earnings $46,833 against a $65,700 total, vs $41,887 at Aims Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aims Community College | Western Colorado University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,463 | $16,425 |
| Total net cost | $45,852 | $65,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,887 | $46,833 |
| Median debt | $6,844 | $20,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,312 | -$96,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aims Community College or Western Colorado University?
Aims Community College, at $11,463 a year after aid versus $16,425 — a gap of $4,962 a year, or $19,848 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 Western Colorado University graduates earn more?
Western Colorado University graduates report a median $46,833 ten years after entry, $4,946 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 Western Colorado University?
Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $20,250 at Western Colorado University, a difference of $13,406. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Western Colorado University, 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.