Elementary Education Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Elementary Education degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Elementary Education in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Elementary Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Lesson Planning and Classroom Management remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Denver is approximately $64,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Elementary Education Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Elementary Education ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,200
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$253,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($358,400) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Elementary Education
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Elementary Education in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Elementary Education Job Titles
Elementary Education in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Denver
Instructional Design & Technology
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Special Education
$64K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$64K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$64K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Elementary Education Degree in Denver — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Elementary Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Denver.