Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs Pickens Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pickens Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,210 against a $26,400 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Pickens Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $6,600 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $26,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $39,210 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$209,400 |
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 Pickens Technical College?
Pickens Technical College, at $6,600 a year after aid versus $13,367 — a gap of $6,767 a year, or $27,068 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 Pickens Technical College graduates earn more?
Pickens Technical College graduates report a median $39,210 ten years after entry, $7,209 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 graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Pickens Technical 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.