Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Aurora vs Adams State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Aurora, CO
Community College of Aurora
- Net price / year
- $8,656
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,592
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Alamosa, CO
Adams State University
- Net price / year
- $12,980
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,372
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Aurora comes closer — median earnings $44,592 against a $17,312 total, vs $44,372 at Adams State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Aurora | Adams State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,656 | $12,980 |
| Total net cost | $17,312 | $51,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,592 | $44,372 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$92,672 | -$131,680 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Community College of Aurora or Adams State University?
Community College of Aurora, at $8,656 a year after aid versus $12,980 — a gap of $4,324 a year, or $34,608 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 Community College of Aurora or Adams State University graduates earn more?
Community College of Aurora graduates report a median $44,592 ten years after entry, $220 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Community College of Aurora or Adams State University?
Community College of Aurora: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Adams State University, a difference of $9,000. 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?
39% of students finish at Adams State University, against 33% at Community College of Aurora. 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.