Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Aveda Institute-Denver: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aveda Institute-Denver comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $80,668 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Aveda Institute-Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $20,167 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $80,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$287,468 |
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 Aveda Institute-Denver?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $20,167 — a gap of $6,800 a year, or $27,200 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 Aveda Institute-Denver graduates earn more?
Aveda Institute-Denver graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $6,019 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 Aveda Institute-Denver?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: its completers carry a median $9,653 in federal loans versus $9,829 at Aveda Institute-Denver, a difference of $176. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Aveda Institute-Denver, against 48% at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. 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.