Colorado Northwestern Community College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Northwestern Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,526 against a $48,524 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Northwestern Community College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,131 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $48,524 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,526 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$145,204 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Northwestern Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Colorado Northwestern Community College, at $12,131 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $8,036 a year, or $32,144 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 Northwestern Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Colorado Northwestern Community College graduates report a median $43,526 ten years after entry, $5,506 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 Northwestern Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Colorado Northwestern Community College, a difference of $2,171. 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 34% at Colorado Northwestern 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.