Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Colorado Mesa University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Mesa University comes closer — median earnings $45,823 against a $60,412 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Colorado Mesa University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $15,103 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $60,412 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $45,823 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | $22,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$111,152 |
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 Colorado Mesa University?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $15,103 — a gap of $1,736 a year, or $6,944 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 Colorado Mesa University graduates earn more?
Colorado Mesa University graduates report a median $45,823 ten years after entry, $13,822 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 Colorado Mesa University?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: its completers carry a median $9,653 in federal loans versus $22,000 at Colorado Mesa University, a difference of $12,347. 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 41% at Colorado Mesa University. 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.