Pickens Technical College
Aurora, CO 80011-9307
About Pickens Technical College
Pickens Technical College is a public community college in Aurora, Colorado, enrolling about 686 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $6,600 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $5,140. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (52.8%) and White (19.7%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Pickens Technical College charges 7% below the national public median tuition ($5,140).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the Colorado median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 75.56%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,210.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Pickens Technical College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1385% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens Technical College | $5,140 | $6,600 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Colorado (state median) | $9,958 | $12,045 | 43 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Pickens Technical College really?
Key findings
- Pickens Technical College charges 7% below the national public median tuition ($5,140).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the Colorado median net price.
Pickens Technical College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $5,140
Finding Pickens Technical College charges 7% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $5,140. That is 7% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Colorado median ($9,958), sticker tuition is about 0.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Pickens Technical College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pickens Technical College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pickens Technical College is $6,600.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $6,600 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,445 below the Colorado median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $13,453 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Pickens Technical College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Pickens Technical College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pickens Technical College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$5,140
Out-of-state tuition
$9,250
Avg. net price
$6,600
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $6,980 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,691 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $4,657 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $9,139 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $20,560. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Pickens Technical College is known for
Top program completions
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician53
- Medical/Clinical Assistant53
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General45
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician43
- Welding Technology/Welder43
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Pickens Technical College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pickens Technical College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Pickens Technical College.
Campus
Location
Aurora, CO
City / state
- ZIP
- 80011-9307
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
Size
Enrollment
686
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,219
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 31.02%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pickens Technical College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pickens Technical College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pickens Technical College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $2,376 | $4,656 | $9,922 |
| 2014 | $2,376 | $4,656 | $7,153 |
| 2015 | $2,376 | $4,656 | $6,507 |
| 2016 | $2,376 | $4,656 | $3,202 |
| 2017 | $4,510 | $7,990 | $4,369 |
| 2018 | $4,510 | $7,990 | $6,344 |
| 2019 | $4,510 | $7,990 | $7,039 |
| 2020 | $4,510 | $7,990 | $9,249 |
| 2021 | $4,930 | $8,830 | $7,322 |
| 2022 | $4,930 | $8,330 | $7,256 |
| 2023 | $4,930 | $8,330 | $7,055 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Pickens Technical College reported total enrollment of about 686 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (52.8%), White (19.7%), and Black or African American (14.4%). About 31.02% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 58.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pickens Technical College in 2024 is 686 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,219 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
75.56% 100% Completion Time
75.56% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 75.56% of students graduating from Pickens Technical College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 91% male / 9% female
- Medical/Clinical Assistant: 2% male / 98% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 2% male / 98% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Pickens Technical College graduates earn a median of $39,210 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pickens Technical College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $39,210. Average net price used in cost models: $6,600.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Pickens Technical College graduates report median earnings of $39,210 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Pickens Technical College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (28 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pickens Technical College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pickens Technical College graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pickens Technical College—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,528
- Colorado median 1.3× the median ($6,731)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.2× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Pickens Technical College at a glance
Pickens Technical College
Pickens Technical College is a public institution in Aurora, CO.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/TechnicianMedical/Clinical AssistantCosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino52.8%White or Caucasian19.7%Black or African American14.4%
Schools near Pickens Technical College
Other campuses in Aurora, CO when available, plus nearby institutions in Colorado.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Colorado, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pickens Technical College located?
Pickens Technical College is located in Aurora, CO.
What is Pickens Technical College's tuition?
Pickens Technical College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $5,140 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $6,600 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pickens Technical College cost?
Reported tuition is $5,140 and average net price is $6,600 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,537 annually.
What explains Pickens Technical College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($6,600), completion (75.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($39,210). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Pickens Technical College?
Pickens Technical College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,219 students, Hispanic or Latino (52.8%), White (19.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pickens Technical College?
About 58.0% of students at Pickens Technical College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Pickens Technical College earn?
Median earnings are $36,111 six years after entry and $39,210 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pickens Technical College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Pickens Technical College public or private?
Pickens Technical College is a public institution located in Aurora, CO.
Is Pickens Technical College an HBCU?
No. Pickens Technical College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pickens Technical College a tribal college?
No. Pickens Technical College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pickens Technical College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Pickens Technical College reports 52.8% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Colorado college profile
- Colorado college costs
- Colorado colleges by ROI
- Colorado trade schools profile
- Aurora, Colorado city profile
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Colorado
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.