Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,745 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $66,980 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,180 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $29,832 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$290,580 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, at $16,745 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $3,422 a year, or $13,688 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 Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $840 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 Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $20,003. 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 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.