Human Resources Management and Services at Colorado Christian University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests manageable financial positioning for this associate degree, with peer programs nationally indicating around $40,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $28,000 in debt. That puts graduates in a position to potentially clear their loans within a few years if they're strategic about repayment—assuming these national benchmarks hold for Colorado Christian's specific graduates.

The real uncertainty here is Colorado context. As the only school in the state reporting this particular associate-level HR program to the Department of Education, there's no local comparison point. Similar programs nationally vary considerably in outcomes, and Colorado's job market—particularly around Denver where Lakewood sits—may produce different results than the national median suggests. The 33% Pell grant enrollment indicates this program serves a mix of economic backgrounds, but without institution-specific outcomes data, it's impossible to know whether graduates are landing HR coordinator roles at $40K or struggling to break into the field.

The practical concern is whether an associate degree provides sufficient credentials for HR work in Colorado's competitive market, where many employers prefer bachelor's degrees. If your child plans to continue their education, this could be a cost-effective starting point. If not, verify that local employers actually hire associate-level HR professionals and at what compensation—because national estimates can't answer that question.