Red Rocks Community College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: 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 $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Red Rocks Community College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,044 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $36,176 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,288 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,616 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Red Rocks Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Red Rocks Community College, at $9,044 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $11,123 a year, or $44,492 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 Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Red Rocks Community College graduates report a median $46,288 ten years after entry, $8,268 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, Red Rocks Community College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Red Rocks Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $329. 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 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.