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Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Colorado Springs CO · vs · Private for-profit, Boulder CO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs comes closer — median earnings $37,180 against a $66,980 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureColorado Technical University-Colorado SpringsAuguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
Net price / yr$16,745$13,367
Total net cost$66,980$53,468
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,180$32,001
Median debt$29,832$9,653
Payback
20-year net return-$290,580-$380,648

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $16,745 — a gap of $3,378 a year, or $13,512 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates earn more?

Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs graduates report a median $37,180 ten years after entry, $5,179 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, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder?

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: its completers carry a median $9,653 in federal loans versus $29,832 at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs, a difference of $20,179. 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 19% at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. 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.

Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs vs Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: frequently asked questions

Is Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder a better value?
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs 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, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: $13,367/yr net price after aid versus $16,745/yr at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs — a difference of $3,378 a year, or about $13,512 over four years.
Do Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates earn more?
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs graduates earn a median $37,180 ten years after entry, versus $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder — a $5,179 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.