Pueblo Community College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pueblo Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,434 against a $48,180 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pueblo Community College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,045 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $48,180 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,434 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$266,700 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pueblo Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Pueblo Community College, at $12,045 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $8,122 a year, or $32,488 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pueblo Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $586 more than the $37,434 at Pueblo Community College. 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, Pueblo Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $10,000 at Pueblo Community College, a difference of $171. 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 31% at Pueblo 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.