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Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs International Salon and Spa Academy: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Boulder CO · vs · Private for-profit, Colorado Springs 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 $22,332 at International Salon and Spa Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAuguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderInternational Salon and Spa Academy
Net price / yr$13,367$20,725
Total net cost$53,468$82,900
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,001$22,332
Median debt$9,653$6,333
Payback
20-year net return-$380,648-$603,460

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 International Salon and Spa Academy?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $20,725 — a gap of $7,358 a year, or $29,432 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 International Salon and Spa Academy graduates earn more?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates report a median $32,001 ten years after entry, $9,669 more than the $22,332 at International Salon and Spa Academy. 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 International Salon and Spa Academy?

International Salon and Spa Academy: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $3,320. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

73% of students finish at International Salon and Spa Academy, 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 International Salon and Spa Academy: frequently asked questions

Is Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or International Salon and Spa Academy 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 International Salon and Spa Academy?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: $13,367/yr net price after aid versus $20,725/yr at International Salon and Spa Academy — a difference of $7,358 a year, or about $29,432 over four years.
Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or International Salon and Spa Academy graduates earn more?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates earn a median $32,001 ten years after entry, versus $22,332 at International Salon and Spa Academy — a $9,669 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.