Otero College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Otero College comes closer — median earnings $39,018 against a $44,412 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Otero College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,103 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $44,412 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,018 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $10,250 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$231,252 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Otero College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Otero College, at $11,103 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $9,064 a year, or $36,256 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Otero College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Otero College graduates report a median $39,018 ten years after entry, $998 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, Otero College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $10,250 at Otero College, a difference of $421. 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 38% at Otero 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.