Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Denver vs Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: 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 Aurora, CO
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
- Net price / year
- $37,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Denver comes closer — median earnings $39,095 against a $18,900 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Denver | Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,450 | $37,153 |
| Total net cost | $18,900 | $148,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,095 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $12,495 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,200 | -$422,672 |
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 Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?
Community College of Denver, at $9,450 a year after aid versus $37,153 — a gap of $27,703 a year, or $129,712 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 Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora graduates earn more?
Community College of Denver graduates report a median $39,095 ten years after entry, $4,438 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, Community College of Denver or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $12,495 at Community College of Denver, a difference of $2,995. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.