Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Arapahoe Community 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 $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Arapahoe Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,745 | $11,571 |
| Total net cost | $66,980 | $46,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,180 | $48,341 |
| Median debt | $29,832 | $11,884 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$290,580 | -$46,664 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Arapahoe Community College?
Arapahoe Community College, at $11,571 a year after aid versus $16,745 — a gap of $5,174 a year, or $20,696 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 Arapahoe Community College graduates earn more?
Arapahoe Community College graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $11,161 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 Arapahoe Community College?
Arapahoe Community College: its completers carry a median $11,884 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $17,948. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Arapahoe 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.