Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Colorado Mountain College

Open-data reference.

We found 11 schools structurally similar to Colorado Mountain College that cost less. 11 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, Colorado · Public

$7,813
Net Price
$44,127
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
26.6%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College posts an average net price of $7,813 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Colorado Mountain College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 11 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $5,723, achieved by Irvine Valley College at $2,090. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 11 of the 11 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Colorado Mountain College’s $44,127, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $50,005.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

11
Alternatives Found
$5,723
Max Savings
11
Better Value Options
66%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Lake Washington Institute of $51k 2. Indiana University-Kokomo $50k 3. Suffolk County Community Col $50k 4. United Technical Center $49k 5. CUNY New York City College o $49k Compared to Colorado Mountain College: $44k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$996 $50,669 38.3% 66%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · Public Better Value
$3,968 -$3,845 $49,917 45.2% 49%
Suffolk County Community College
Selden, NY · Public Better Value
$5,258 -$2,555 $49,907 26.7% 49%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public Better Value
$3,461 -$4,352 $49,130 N/A 45%
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$5,127 -$2,686 $49,365 20.5% 44%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$5,189 $50,651 23.1% 43%
Bates Technical College
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$6,292 -$1,521 $50,051 43.4% 42%
Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham, WA · Public Better Value
$5,997 -$1,816 $49,748 44.4% 42%
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$324 $52,312 29.4% 40%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public Better Value
$2,090 -$5,723 $49,156 57.3% 40%
Schuylkill Technology Center
Frackville, PA · Public Better Value
$6,797 -$1,016 $49,148 60.1% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Colorado Mountain College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Colorado Mountain College?
We found 11 schools similar to Colorado Mountain College that cost less. The closest match is Lake Washington Institute of Technology with 66% similarity and a net price of $6,817.
What is the ROI of attending Colorado Mountain College?
Colorado Mountain College has an average net price of $7,813. Former students earn a median of $44,127 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 5.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Colorado Mountain College for less money?
Yes - 11 of 11 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lake Washington Institute of Technology costs $6,817 (saving $996) with median earnings of $50,669.
What is the cheapest alternative to Colorado Mountain College?
The most affordable similar school is Irvine Valley College at $2,090, saving $5,723 compared to Colorado Mountain College. It has a 40% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 11 alternatives have an average median earnings of $50,005 compared to Colorado Mountain College's $44,127. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.