Public Certificate Strong 74/100

Pickens Technical College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Aurora, Colorado

About Pickens Technical College

Thinking about Pickens Technical College, a college in Colorado where more students graduate in Mechanics & Repair than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Pickens Technical College is a public institution offering certificate degrees based in Aurora, Colorado. It enrolls 686 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
62%
Net Price
$6,600
Median Earnings (10yr)
$39,210
Enrollment
686
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Council on Occupational Education
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 60
Value 75
Affordability 56
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Pickens Technical College admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $6,600 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$6,600
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,140
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,250
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,537
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,628
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,439

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $6,980
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,691
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $4,657
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $9,139
What this means: 31% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

62% of students who start here finish within six years, and 62% come back after first year. Roughly half finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $39,210 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,210
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$33,000$35,000$37,000$38,000$40,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs
What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$5.9 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 686 students, a small, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 58% are the first in their family to go to college.

Total Enrolled
686
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
58%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 52.8% 362
White 19.7% 135
Black 14.4% 99
Asian 5.1% 35
Other 4.5% 31
International 3.5% 24
Hispanic: 52.8% (362 students)White: 19.7% (135 students)Black: 14.4% (99 students)Asian: 5.1% (35 students)Other: 4.5% (31 students)International: 3.5% (24 students)Total686

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pickens Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Aurora, Colorado
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
21% of students are 25 or older
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Health graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Pickens Technical College offers a focused set of programs: 7 distinct programs across 6 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 20 students for every instructor here: on the higher side, so larger classes are common.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,451
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Pros & Cons of Pickens Technical College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Pickens Technical College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, Pickens Technical College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pickens Technical College

The questions families ask most about Pickens Technical College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Pickens Technical College hard to get into?
Not especially. Pickens Technical College admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Pickens Technical College?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Pickens Technical College cost?
Budget around $6,600 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pickens Technical College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $39,210 a year against a net price of $6,600, about 5.9 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pickens Technical College known for?
Mostly Vehicle Maintenance, Cosmetology, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Pickens Technical College graduates earn?
About $39,210 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pickens Technical College accredited?
Yes. Pickens Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend Pickens Technical College?
686 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Pickens Technical College?
62% finish within six years. That leaves a meaningful share who do not finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Pickens Technical College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Pickens Technical College located?
Pickens Technical College is located in Aurora, Colorado.
What programs does Pickens Technical College offer?
7 different programs, most commonly Vehicle Maintenance, Cosmetology, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pickens Technical College?
20 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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