Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Colorado Mountain College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: which has better ROI?

Public, Glenwood Springs CO · vs · Private for-profit, Aurora CO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Mountain College comes closer — median earnings $44,127 against a $31,252 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureColorado Mountain CollegeArizona College of Nursing-Aurora
Net price / yr$7,813$37,153
Total net cost$31,252$148,612
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,127$34,657
Median debt$9,000$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$115,912-$422,672

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?

Colorado Mountain College, at $7,813 a year after aid versus $37,153 — a gap of $29,340 a year, or $117,360 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora graduates earn more?

Colorado Mountain College graduates report a median $44,127 ten years after entry, $9,470 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. 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, Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?

Colorado Mountain College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Colorado Mountain College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: frequently asked questions

Is Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora a better value?
Colorado Mountain College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?
Colorado Mountain College: $7,813/yr net price after aid versus $37,153/yr at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora — a difference of $29,340 a year, or about $117,360 over four years.
Do Colorado Mountain College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora graduates earn more?
Colorado Mountain College graduates earn a median $44,127 ten years after entry, versus $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora — a $9,470 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.