Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Colorado Mountain College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Mountain College comes closer — median earnings $44,127 against a $31,252 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 Mountain College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $7,813 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $31,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $44,127 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$115,912 |
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 Mountain College?
Colorado Mountain College, at $7,813 a year after aid versus $13,367 — a gap of $5,554 a year, or $22,216 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 Mountain College graduates earn more?
Colorado Mountain College graduates report a median $44,127 ten years after entry, $12,126 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 Mountain College?
Colorado Mountain College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $653. 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 27% at Colorado Mountain 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.