Head-to-head comparison
Western Colorado University vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Option A Gunnison, CO
Western Colorado University
- Net price / year
- $16,425
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,833
- 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 Western Colorado University comes closer — median earnings $46,833 against a $65,700 total, vs $38,020 at Aveda Institute-Denver. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Colorado University | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,425 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $65,700 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,833 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $20,250 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$96,240 | -$287,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Colorado University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Western Colorado University, at $16,425 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $3,742 a year, or $14,968 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 Western Colorado University or Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Western Colorado University graduates report a median $46,833 ten years after entry, $8,813 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, Western Colorado University or Aveda Institute-Denver?
Aveda Institute-Denver: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $20,250 at Western Colorado University, a difference of $10,421. 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 51% at Western Colorado 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.