Red Rocks Community College vs Adams State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Red Rocks Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,288 against a $36,176 total, vs $44,372 at Adams State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Red Rocks Community College | Adams State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,044 | $12,980 |
| Total net cost | $36,176 | $51,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,288 | $44,372 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,616 | -$131,680 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Red Rocks Community College or Adams State University?
Red Rocks Community College, at $9,044 a year after aid versus $12,980 — a gap of $3,936 a year, or $15,744 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Red Rocks Community College or Adams State University graduates earn more?
Red Rocks Community College graduates report a median $46,288 ten years after entry, $1,916 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, Red Rocks Community College or Adams State University?
Red Rocks Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Adams State University, a difference of $10,000. 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 32% at Red Rocks 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.