Aims Community College
Aims Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Aims Community College at a Glance
Aims Community College is a public community college serving northern Colorado with locations in Greeley, Windsor, Fort Lupton, and Loveland. Aims has more than 200 degree and certificate programs and provides day and night classes. Aims was founded in Greeley in 1967 and graduated its first class in 1969. The school established a second campus in Fort Lupton in 1984, and a third in Loveland in 1987. The Aims Automotive and Technology Center, located in Windsor, opened in January 2010.
1967
59 years old
7,540
Identity
Is Aims Community College Worth It?
At a value score of 34/100, Aims Community College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $41,887 — 22% below average — while paying $11,463/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 37% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $6,844 is manageable at just 16% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Aims Community College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Aims Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CO
Ranked #145 of 226 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #2 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #5 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #6 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #145 | Aims Community College | 34 | $11,463 | $41,887 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Aims Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in CO.
Best Programs at Aims Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Aims Community College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $11,463/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in CO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Greeley, CO
- Student Body
- 3,635 students
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,463
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $41,887
- Median Student Debt
- $6,844