Colorado Mountain College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Mountain College comes closer — median earnings $44,127 against a $31,252 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Mountain College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,813 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $31,252 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,127 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,912 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Mountain College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Colorado Mountain College, at $7,813 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $12,354 a year, or $49,416 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 Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Colorado Mountain College graduates report a median $44,127 ten years after entry, $6,107 more than the $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. 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 Aveda Institute-Denver?
Colorado Mountain College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $829. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Denver, 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.