Arapahoe Community College vs Pickens Technical 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 $39,210 at Pickens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arapahoe Community College | Pickens Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,571 | $6,600 |
| Total net cost | $46,284 | $26,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $39,210 |
| Median debt | $11,884 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$46,664 | -$209,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arapahoe Community College or Pickens Technical College?
Pickens Technical College, at $6,600 a year after aid versus $11,571 — a gap of $4,971 a year, or $19,884 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 Pickens Technical College graduates earn more?
Arapahoe Community College graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $9,131 more than the $39,210 at Pickens Technical 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 graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Pickens Technical College, against 29% at Arapahoe 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.