Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Denver, CO
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
- Net price / year
- $32,423
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,396
- 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $129,692 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln College of Technology-Denver | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,423 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $129,692 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,396 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $11,730 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$168,972 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln College of Technology-Denver or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $32,423 — a gap of $12,256 a year, or $49,024 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $8,376 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, Lincoln College of Technology-Denver or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $11,730 at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver, a difference of $1,901. 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 71% at Lincoln College of Technology-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.