Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Pikes Peak State College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pikes Peak State College comes closer — median earnings $40,796 against a $12,014 total, vs $37,180 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Pikes Peak State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,745 | $6,007 |
| Total net cost | $66,980 | $12,014 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,180 | $40,796 |
| Median debt | $29,832 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$290,580 | -$163,294 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Pikes Peak State College?
Pikes Peak State College, at $6,007 a year after aid versus $16,745 — a gap of $10,738 a year, or $54,966 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 Pikes Peak State College graduates earn more?
Pikes Peak State College graduates report a median $40,796 ten years after entry, $3,616 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 Pikes Peak State College?
Pikes Peak State College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $20,832. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
21% of students finish at Pikes Peak State 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.