Head-to-head comparison
Trinidad State College vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Trinidad, CO
Trinidad State College
- Net price / year
- $10,772
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,475
- 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 Trinidad State College comes closer — median earnings $36,475 against a $43,088 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trinidad State College | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,772 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $43,088 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,475 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $8,908 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$280,788 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Trinidad State College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Trinidad State College, at $10,772 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $9,395 a year, or $37,580 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 Trinidad State College or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $1,545 more than the $36,475 at Trinidad 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, Trinidad State College or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Trinidad State College: its completers carry a median $8,908 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $921. 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 55% at Trinidad 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.