Front Range Community College vs Adams State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Front Range Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,910 against a $52,124 total, vs $44,372 at Adams State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Front Range Community College | Adams State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,031 | $12,980 |
| Total net cost | $52,124 | $51,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,910 | $44,372 |
| Median debt | $12,251 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,124 | -$131,680 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Front Range Community College or Adams State University?
Adams State University, at $12,980 a year after aid versus $13,031 — a gap of $51 a year, or $204 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Front Range Community College or Adams State University graduates earn more?
Front Range Community College graduates report a median $45,910 ten years after entry, $1,538 more than the $44,372 at Adams State University. 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, Front Range Community College or Adams State University?
Front Range Community College: its completers carry a median $12,251 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Adams State University, a difference of $7,249. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Adams State University, against 35% at Front Range Community College. 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.