Community College of Denver vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Denver comes closer — median earnings $39,095 against a $18,900 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Denver | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,450 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $18,900 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,095 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $12,495 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,200 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Community College of Denver or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Community College of Denver, at $9,450 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $10,717 a year, or $61,768 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 Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Community College of Denver graduates report a median $39,095 ten years after entry, $1,075 more than the $38,020 at Aveda Institute-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 Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $12,495 at Community College of Denver, a difference of $2,666. 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 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.