Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Aims Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aims Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,887 against a $45,852 total, vs $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Aims Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,745 | $11,463 |
| Total net cost | $66,980 | $45,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,180 | $41,887 |
| Median debt | $29,832 | $6,844 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$290,580 | -$175,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Aims Community College?
Aims Community College, at $11,463 a year after aid versus $16,745 — a gap of $5,282 a year, or $21,128 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 Technical University-Colorado Springs or Aims Community College graduates earn more?
Aims Community College graduates report a median $41,887 ten years after entry, $4,707 more than the $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. 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 Technical University-Colorado Springs or Aims Community College?
Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $22,988. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Aims Community College, against 19% at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. 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.