Arapahoe Community College vs Colorado Mesa University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Arapahoe Community College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Colorado Mesa University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arapahoe Community College at $26,052 vs Colorado Mesa University at $23,650. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,000 vs $55,300.
| Metric | Arapahoe Community College | Colorado Mesa University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Public |
| State | Co | Co |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $26,052 | $23,650* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $58,000* | $55,300 |
| Majors Tracked | 3 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (78/100) | Computer and Information Sciences (96/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $26,866 | $20,002* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $62,000 | $95,000* |
Arapahoe Community College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Colorado Mesa University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arapahoe Community College at $26,052 vs Colorado Mesa University at $23,650. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,000 vs $55,300.
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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.
Average median debt is roughly even across Arapahoe Community College and Colorado Mesa University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Arapahoe Community College and Colorado Mesa University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
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.