Pikes Peak State College vs Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pikes Peak State College comes closer — median earnings $40,796 against a $12,014 total, vs $32,001 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pikes Peak State College | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,007 | $13,367 |
| Total net cost | $12,014 | $53,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,796 | $32,001 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $9,653 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,294 | -$380,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pikes Peak State College or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder?
Pikes Peak State College, at $6,007 a year after aid versus $13,367 — a gap of $7,360 a year, or $41,454 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pikes Peak State College or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates earn more?
Pikes Peak State College graduates report a median $40,796 ten years after entry, $8,795 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, Pikes Peak State College or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder?
Pikes Peak State College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $653. 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 21% at Pikes Peak State College. 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.