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

Private for-profit, Boulder CO · vs · Private for-profit, Denver CO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln College of Technology-Denver comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $129,692 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAuguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderLincoln College of Technology-Denver
Net price / yr$13,367$32,423
Total net cost$53,468$129,692
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,001$46,396
Median debt$9,653$11,730
Payback
20-year net return-$380,648-$168,972

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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $32,423 — a gap of $19,056 a year, or $76,224 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates earn more?

Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $14,395 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: its completers carry a median $9,653 in federal loans versus $11,730 at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver, a difference of $2,077. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

71% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-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.

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Lincoln College of Technology-Denver: frequently asked questions

Is Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Lincoln College of Technology-Denver a better value?
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Denver?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: $13,367/yr net price after aid versus $32,423/yr at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver — a difference of $19,056 a year, or about $76,224 over four years.
Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver graduates earn a median $46,396 ten years after entry, versus $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder — a $14,395 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.