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Community College of Denver

#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado
Public Denver, CO · Urban · Rocky Mountains · 80% data
A- Diversity B Affordability B Value
Graduation Rate
18% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$39,095 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$9,450 B
45% less than the typical college
Enrollment
5,096
Earnings -4% vs avg
Graduation -69% vs avg
Net Price +-45% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.4 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado.

22.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $22.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $807,657.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 18% — 69% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $22.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Community College of Denver

Community College of Denver is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
5,096
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Education, Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Community College of Denver

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Education
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 43% overall
C
Earnings
$39,095 median
B
Value
4.1× net price
B
Affordability
$9,450/yr net
F
Graduation
18% graduate
A-
Diversity
0.72 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

The Community College of Denver serves 5,096 students, providing a solid foundation for those looking to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. With a net price of $9,450, it remains an affordable option for many students seeking higher education in the heart of Denver.

The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for this institution, but looking at general outcomes, graduates earn an average of $39,095 within ten years of finishing their programs. This income level suggests that students can find pathways to stable careers, although the graduation rate is relatively low at 18%.

Students who thrive at the Community College of Denver often pursue programs in Health Professions, Education, Humanities, Business & Marketing, or Precision Production. With 31% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial support plays a significant role in the community. Despite the challenges, the college remains a practical choice for those focused on gaining skills and entering the job market.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Community College of Denver is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Denver? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Community College of Denver, located in Denver, Colorado, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.

Full-Time Faculty
32%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,449
Student–Faculty Ratio
20:1
Diversity Index
0.72
First-Gen Students
49%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Denver? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Community College of Denver is $17,136, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,450. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,356 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,495 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,902
Out-of-State
$17,136
Avg Net Price
$9,450
Median Debt
$12,495
Pell Grant Rate
31%
Federal Loan Rate
17%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$8,356
Family Income $30K–$48K
$9,533
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,662
Family Income $110K+
$16,275

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Community College of Denver Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Denver report median earnings of $39,095, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$36,412
8 Years
$35,977
10 Years
$39,095
Debt-to-Earnings
0.32x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$36,412 6yr $35,977 8yr $39,095 10yr

How Community Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation18%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$9KMedian Debt$12KPell Grant Rate31%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$11K$48-75K$16K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Community College of Denver Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Community College of Denver delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,450/year ($37,800 total). Graduates earn $39,095 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $845,457 in total earnings — a net gain of $807,657 (22.4× your investment). The median debt is $12,495, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 18% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$37,800
Projected 20yr Earnings
$845,457
Net Return
$807,657
ROI Multiple
22.4×
Cost Per Year
$9,450
Median Debt
$12,495
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
18%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Community College of Denver? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Community College of Denver. Its economic connectedness score is 0.93, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.93
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.13
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.9%
Support Ratio
0.84
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields Community College of Denver awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Denver? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Community College of Denver, located in Denver, Colorado, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 18%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Denver? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Community College of Denver is $17,136, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,450. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,356 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,495 in federal student loans.

Is Community College of Denver Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Denver report median earnings of $39,095, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

How Connected Is Community College of Denver? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Community College of Denver. Its economic connectedness score is 0.93, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Community College of Denver.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys