Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Denver vs Adams State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Denver, CO
Community College of Denver
- Net price / year
- $9,450
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,095
- 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 Adams State University comes closer — median earnings $44,372 against a $51,920 total, vs $39,095 at Community College of Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Denver | Adams State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,450 | $12,980 |
| Total net cost | $18,900 | $51,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,095 | $44,372 |
| Median debt | $12,495 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,200 | -$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 Denver or Adams State University?
Community College of Denver, at $9,450 a year after aid versus $12,980 — a gap of $3,530 a year, or $33,020 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 Denver or Adams State University graduates earn more?
Adams State University graduates report a median $44,372 ten years after entry, $5,277 more than the $39,095 at Community College of 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Community College of Denver or Adams State University?
Community College of Denver: its completers carry a median $12,495 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Adams State University, a difference of $7,005. 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 20% at Community College of Denver. 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.