Accounting at Community College of Denver

Community accounting programs in Colorado cluster tightly around $37,000 in first-year earnings, and estimates based on comparable programs nationally put Community College of Denver squarely in that range. What sets this program apart is the debt picture: at an estimated $16,000, you're looking at roughly $7,000 less borrowing than the typical Colorado accounting associate's degree and about $3,400 below the national median. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates might owe less than half their first-year salary—represents a manageable financial start for an entry-level accounting position.

The challenge is that these are estimates drawn from peer programs, not tracked outcomes from CCD's actual graduates. Front Range Community College, just north in Westminster, reports nearly identical earnings at $38,838 with real data, which suggests the estimates here are reasonable. But you're betting on pattern rather than proof. For a field as standardized as accounting—where credentials and technical skills matter more than institutional prestige—this may be less risky than in other majors.

The practical call: if your student can complete this program near the estimated debt level and secure steady bookkeeping or junior accounting work, the math works. The value hinges on keeping actual borrowing below $20,000 and landing employment quickly after graduation.