Pikes Peak State College
Pikes Peak State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Pikes Peak State College at a Glance
Pikes Peak State College is a public community college in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Pikes Peak region. PPSC offers more than 150 programs in liberal arts and sciences transfer and career technical education. The college's 60+60 Bachelor's Degree Transfer Program guarantees transfer of the PPSC Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees to any public institution of higher education in Colorado.
1968
58 years old
Identity
Is Pikes Peak State College Worth It?
At a value score of 37/100, Pikes Peak State College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $40,796 — 24% below average — while paying $6,007/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 22% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Pikes Peak State College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pikes Peak State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CO
Ranked #105 of 175 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 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #4 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #105 | Pikes Peak State College | 37 | $6,007 | $40,796 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pikes Peak State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in CO.
Best Programs at Pikes Peak State College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Pikes Peak State 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 $6,007/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
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Student Body
- 9,595 students
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,007
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $40,796
- Median Student Debt
- $9,000