Head-to-head comparison
Pikes Peak State College vs University of Colorado Colorado Springs: which has better ROI?
Option A Colorado Springs, CO
Pikes Peak State College
- Net price / year
- $6,007
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,796
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Colorado Springs, CO
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Net price / year
- $15,788
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,659
- Payback
- 10 yrs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,152 in 10 years versus not at all at Pikes Peak State College, on median earnings of $54,659 vs $40,796 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pikes Peak State College | University of Colorado Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,007 | $15,788 |
| Total net cost | $12,014 | $63,152 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,796 | $54,659 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | 10 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$163,294 | $62,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pikes Peak State College or University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
Pikes Peak State College, at $6,007 a year after aid versus $15,788 — a gap of $9,781 a year, or $51,138 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 Pikes Peak State College or University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates earn more?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates report a median $54,659 ten years after entry, $13,863 more than the $40,796 at Pikes Peak State College. 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, Pikes Peak State College or University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
Pikes Peak State College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $20,000 at University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a difference of $11,000. 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?
47% of students finish at University of Colorado Colorado Springs, against 21% at Pikes Peak State 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.