Community College of Denver 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 $39,095 at Community College of Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Denver | Aims Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,450 | $11,463 |
| Total net cost | $18,900 | $45,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,095 | $41,887 |
| Median debt | $12,495 | $6,844 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,200 | -$175,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Community College of Denver or Aims Community College?
Community College of Denver, at $9,450 a year after aid versus $11,463 — a gap of $2,013 a year, or $26,952 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Community College of Denver or Aims Community College graduates earn more?
Aims Community College graduates report a median $41,887 ten years after entry, $2,792 more than the $39,095 at Community College of 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, Community College of Denver or Aims Community College?
Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $12,495 at Community College of Denver, a difference of $5,651. 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 20% at Community College of Denver. 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.