Head-to-head comparison
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder vs International Salon and Spa Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Boulder, CO
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
- Net price / year
- $13,367
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,001
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Colorado Springs, CO
International Salon and Spa Academy
- Net price / year
- $20,725
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,332
- Payback
- No payback
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 $22,332 at International Salon and Spa Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | International Salon and Spa Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,367 | $20,725 |
| Total net cost | $53,468 | $82,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,001 | $22,332 |
| Median debt | $9,653 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$380,648 | -$603,460 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or International Salon and Spa Academy?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, at $13,367 a year after aid versus $20,725 — a gap of $7,358 a year, or $29,432 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or International Salon and Spa Academy graduates earn more?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder graduates report a median $32,001 ten years after entry, $9,669 more than the $22,332 at International Salon and Spa Academy. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder or International Salon and Spa Academy?
International Salon and Spa Academy: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $9,653 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder, a difference of $3,320. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at International Salon and Spa Academy, 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.