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Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Aims Community College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Boulder CO · vs · Public, Greeley CO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aims Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,887 against a $45,852 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAuguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderAims Community College
Net price / yr$13,367$11,463
Total net cost$53,468$45,852
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,001$41,887
Median debt$9,653$6,844
Payback
20-year net return-$380,648-$175,312

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College?

Aims Community College, at $11,463 a year after aid versus $13,367 — a gap of $1,904 a year, or $7,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College graduates earn more?

Aims Community College graduates report a median $41,887 ten years after entry, $9,886 more than the $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College?

Aims Community College: its completers carry a median $6,844 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $2,809. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

48% of students finish at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, against 40% at Aims Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Aims Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College a better value?
Aims Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College?
Aims Community College: $11,463/yr net price after aid versus $13,367/yr at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder — a difference of $1,904 a year, or about $7,616 over four years.
Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Aims Community College graduates earn more?
Aims Community College graduates earn a median $41,887 ten years after entry, versus $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder — a $9,886 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.