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

Private for-profit, Boulder CO · vs · Private for-profit, Fort Collins CO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder comes closer — median earnings $32,001 against a $53,468 total, vs $34,432 at IBMC College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAuguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderIBMC College
Net price / yr$13,367$34,590
Total net cost$53,468$138,360
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,001$34,432
Median debt$9,653$8,750
Payback
20-year net return-$380,648-$416,920

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 IBMC College?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $34,590 — a gap of $21,223 a year, or $84,892 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 IBMC College graduates earn more?

IBMC College graduates report a median $34,432 ten years after entry, $2,431 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 IBMC College?

IBMC College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $903. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

86% of students finish at IBMC College, 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.

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

Is Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or IBMC College a better value?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder 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 IBMC College?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: $13,367/yr net price after aid versus $34,590/yr at IBMC College — a difference of $21,223 a year, or about $84,892 over four years.
Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or IBMC College graduates earn more?
IBMC College graduates earn a median $34,432 ten years after entry, versus $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder — a $2,431 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.