Head-to-head comparison
Naropa University vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Boulder, CO
Naropa University
- Net price / year
- $29,179
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,720
- 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 Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $28,720 at Naropa University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Naropa University | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,179 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $116,716 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,720 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $24,712 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$509,516 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver, at $20,167 a year after aid versus $29,179 — a gap of $9,012 a year, or $36,048 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 Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $9,300 more than the $28,720 at Naropa 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, Naropa University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $24,712 at Naropa University, a difference of $14,883. 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 37% at Naropa University. 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.