Head-to-head comparison
Adams State University vs Concorde Career College-Aurora: which has better ROI?
Option A Alamosa, CO
Adams State University
- Net price / year
- $12,980
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,372
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Aurora, CO
Concorde Career College-Aurora
- Net price / year
- $16,666
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,456
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Adams State University comes closer — median earnings $44,372 against a $51,920 total, vs $42,456 at Concorde Career College-Aurora. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Adams State University | Concorde Career College-Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,980 | $16,666 |
| Total net cost | $51,920 | $66,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,372 | $42,456 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$131,680 | -$184,744 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Adams State University or Concorde Career College-Aurora?
Adams State University, at $12,980 a year after aid versus $16,666 — a gap of $3,686 a year, or $14,744 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Adams State University or Concorde Career College-Aurora graduates earn more?
Adams State University graduates report a median $44,372 ten years after entry, $1,916 more than the $42,456 at Concorde Career College-Aurora. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Adams State University or Concorde Career College-Aurora?
Concorde Career College-Aurora: 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Concorde Career College-Aurora, against 39% at Adams State University. 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.