Head-to-head comparison
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Aurora, CO
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
- Net price / year
- $37,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Denver, CO
Aveda Institute-Denver
- Net price / year
- $20,167
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,020
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,153 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $148,612 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,657 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$422,672 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $37,153 — a gap of $16,986 a year, or $67,944 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 Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $3,363 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-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, Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: 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.