Lamar Community College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lamar Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,719 against a $18,322 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar Community College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,161 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $18,322 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,719 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$211,142 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lamar Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Lamar Community College, at $9,161 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $11,006 a year, or $62,346 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lamar Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Lamar Community College graduates report a median $38,719 ten years after entry, $699 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, Lamar Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Lamar Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $1,079. 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 55% at Lamar 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.