Top 50 Best Certificate Programs in Colorado by ROI

Every Certificate program in Colorado ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Colorado

116

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$147,212

Across all Colorado programs

Average Annual Cost

$21,646

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Computer Science.	+$966,234	$91,985	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Red Rocks Community College Grad rate: 38.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$819,782	$85,388	$18,048	$22,170	Full ROI →
3	Trinidad State College Grad rate: 53.3%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$602,063	$73,414	$21,373	$3,588	Full ROI →
4	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Political Science and Government.	+$533,934	$70,370	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
5	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$523,514	$69,849	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Emily Griffith Technical College Grad rate: 87.3%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$445,807	$65,707	$13,483	$11,000	Full ROI →
7	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Psychology, General.	+$370,434	$62,195	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Community College of Aurora Grad rate: 26.5%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$339,330	$59,777	$16,210	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Red Rocks Community College Grad rate: 38.0%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$337,661	$60,978	$18,048	$17,667	Full ROI →
10	Lamar Community College Grad rate: 42.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$333,594	$59,648	$19,366	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Community College of Denver Grad rate: 16.8%	Precision Metal Working.	+$308,833	$59,103	$18,377	$11,000	Full ROI →
12	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Communication and Media Studies.	+$299,114	$58,629	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Colorado Mountain College Grad rate: 26.5%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$289,858	$58,495	$13,717	$19,500	Full ROI →
14	Technical College of the Rockies Grad rate: 88.7%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$246,548	$56,264	$8,852	$22,133	Full ROI →
15	Arapahoe Community College Grad rate: 26.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$226,189	$54,900	$16,348	$11,454	Full ROI →
16	Aims Community College Grad rate: 35.1%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$215,428	$54,107	$14,478	$9,062	Full ROI →
17	Pueblo Community College Grad rate: 31.7%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$198,253	$53,392	$19,251	$7,656	Full ROI →
18	Arapahoe Community College Grad rate: 26.7%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$195,768	$54,047	$16,348	$21,351	Full ROI →
19	Red Rocks Community College Grad rate: 38.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$169,732	$51,389	$18,048	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Technical College of the Rockies Grad rate: 88.7%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$167,835	$51,155	$8,852	$4,750	Full ROI →
21	Pueblo Community College Grad rate: 31.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$155,464	$51,323	$19,251	$8,700	Full ROI →
22	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	+$118,014	$49,574	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
23	Community College of Denver Grad rate: 16.8%	Legal Support Services.	+$103,283	$48,083	$18,377	N/A	Full ROI →
24	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Sociology.	+$60,674	$46,707	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Concorde Career College-Aurora Grad rate: 70.2%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$52,718	$46,869	$21,350	$17,268	Full ROI →
26	Concorde Career College-Aurora Grad rate: 70.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$45,110	$45,323	$21,350	N/A	Full ROI →
27	Pikes Peak State College Grad rate: 23.0%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$44,955	$45,165	$18,345	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Geography and Cartography.	+$35,215	$46,039	$18,087	$20,354	Full ROI →
29	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Neurobiology and Neurosciences.	+$34,734	$45,410	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Otero College Grad rate: 37.0%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$26,507	$44,346	$20,413	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Arapahoe Community College Grad rate: 26.7%	Legal Support Services.	+$24,412	$44,038	$16,348	N/A	Full ROI →
32	Community College of Aurora Grad rate: 26.5%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$10,421	$44,069	$16,210	$10,925	Full ROI →
33	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$7,803	$43,822	$18,087	$19,375	Full ROI →
34	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	-$14,025	$43,472	$18,087	$18,799	Full ROI →
35	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Precision Metal Working.	-$27,075	$42,114	$18,087	$8,347	Full ROI →
36	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$27,481	$42,415	$18,087	$13,107	Full ROI →
37	Colorado Mountain College Grad rate: 26.5%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$39,194	$41,364	$13,717	$9,450	Full ROI →
38	Colorado Mountain College Grad rate: 26.5%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$48,342	$41,180	$13,717	$13,500	Full ROI →
39	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Fine and Studio Arts.	-$61,686	$40,589	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Community College of Denver Grad rate: 16.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$65,245	$41,851	$18,377	$32,510	Full ROI →
41	Community College of Aurora Grad rate: 26.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$68,017	$40,438	$16,210	$15,235	Full ROI →
42	Lincoln College of Technology-Denver Grad rate: 67.2%	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians.	-$80,035	$40,783	$36,049	$14,553	Full ROI →
43	Arapahoe Community College Grad rate: 26.7%	Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.	-$83,896	$39,835	$16,348	$17,962	Full ROI →
44	Trinidad State College Grad rate: 53.3%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$89,373	$38,600	$21,373	N/A	Full ROI →
45	Aims Community College Grad rate: 35.1%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$110,318	$38,018	$14,478	$12,000	Full ROI →
46	Pikes Peak State College Grad rate: 23.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$122,565	$36,789	$18,345	N/A	Full ROI →
47	Pickens Technical College Grad rate: 59.7%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$123,014	$36,423	$11,474	N/A	Full ROI →
48	Red Rocks Community College Grad rate: 38.0%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$124,128	$36,696	$18,048	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Lincoln College of Technology-Denver Grad rate: 67.2%	Precision Metal Working.	-$128,438	$38,017	$36,049	$9,429	Full ROI →
50	Front Range Community College Grad rate: 28.6%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	-$134,967	$36,156	$18,087	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.