Arapahoe Community College vs Colorado Mountain College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arapahoe Community College comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $46,284 total, vs $44,127 at Colorado Mountain College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arapahoe Community College | Colorado Mountain College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,571 | $7,813 |
| Total net cost | $46,284 | $31,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $44,127 |
| Median debt | $11,884 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$46,664 | -$115,912 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arapahoe Community College or Colorado Mountain College?
Colorado Mountain College, at $7,813 a year after aid versus $11,571 — a gap of $3,758 a year, or $15,032 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Arapahoe Community College or Colorado Mountain College graduates earn more?
Arapahoe Community College graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $4,214 more than the $44,127 at Colorado Mountain 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, Arapahoe Community College or Colorado Mountain College?
Colorado Mountain College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $11,884 at Arapahoe Community College, a difference of $2,884. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Arapahoe Community College, against 27% at Colorado Mountain 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.