Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Naropa University: which has better ROI?
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 $28,720 at Naropa University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Naropa University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $29,179 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $116,716 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $28,720 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | $24,712 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$509,516 |
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 Naropa University?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $29,179 — a gap of $15,812 a year, or $63,248 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 Naropa University graduates earn more?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates report a median $32,001 ten years after entry, $3,281 more than the $28,720 at Naropa University. 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 Naropa University?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: its completers carry a median $9,653 in federal loans versus $24,712 at Naropa University, a difference of $15,059. 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 37% at Naropa 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.