Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $42,958 against a $129,452 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,363 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $129,452 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,958 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$237,492 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $32,363 — a gap of $12,196 a year, or $48,784 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates report a median $42,958 ten years after entry, $4,938 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, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, a difference of $21,171. 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 32% at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. 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.