Naropa University vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $28,720 at Naropa University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Naropa University | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,179 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $116,716 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,720 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $24,712 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$509,516 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $29,179 — a gap of $9,012 a year, or $36,048 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $9,300 more than the $28,720 at Naropa 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, Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $24,712 at Naropa University, a difference of $14,883. 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 37% at Naropa University. 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.