Head-to-head comparison
Fort Lewis College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Durango, CO
Fort Lewis College
- Net price / year
- $17,296
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,349
- 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 Fort Lewis College comes closer — median earnings $46,349 against a $69,184 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fort Lewis College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,296 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $69,184 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,349 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $18,389 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$109,404 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fort Lewis College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Fort Lewis College, at $17,296 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $2,871 a year, or $11,484 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 Fort Lewis College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Fort Lewis College graduates report a median $46,349 ten years after entry, $8,329 more than the $38,020 at Aveda Institute-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, Fort Lewis College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $18,389 at Fort Lewis College, a difference of $8,560. 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?
84% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Denver, against 36% at Fort Lewis College. 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.