Trinidad State College
Trinidad State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Trinidad State College at a Glance
Trinidad State College is a public community college in Trinidad, Colorado. It was founded in 1925, making it the first community college in the state of Colorado. Trinidad State also operates a satellite campus in the city of Alamosa, Colorado, roughly 100 miles northwest of Trinidad. The college offers 49 degree programs in vocational fields. The college's name changed from Trinidad State Junior College to Trinidad State College in 2021.
1925
101 years old
$6M
$6.04 million
1,636
Identity
Is Trinidad State College Worth It?
Trinidad State College offers moderate value at $10,772/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $36,475, which is 32% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Trinidad State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CO
Ranked #23 of 77 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 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #4 | Northern Marianas College | 100 | $2,789 | $27,836 |
| #5 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #6 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #23 | Trinidad State College | 47 | $10,772 | $36,475 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Trinidad State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in CO.
Best Programs at Trinidad State College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Trinidad 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 $10,772/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
- Trinidad, CO
- Student Body
- 1,188 students
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,772
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,475
- Median Student Debt
- $8,908