Arapahoe Community College vs Colorado Christian University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Arapahoe Community College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Colorado Christian University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arapahoe Community College at $26,052 vs Colorado Christian University at $37,334. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,000 vs $54,400.
| Metric | Arapahoe Community College | Colorado Christian University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Private |
| State | Co | Co |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $26,052* | $37,334 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $58,000* | $54,400 |
| Majors Tracked | 3 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (78/100) | Computer and Information Sciences (91/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $26,866* | $31,419 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $62,000 | $95,000* |
Arapahoe Community College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Colorado Christian University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arapahoe Community College at $26,052 vs Colorado Christian University at $37,334. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,000 vs $54,400.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $26,052 versus $37,334. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $54,400 and $58,000. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Co, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.