Culinary Arts and Related Services
Offered at 897 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 479 | $31,552 | $35,119 | $10,697 |
| Associate | 389 | $34,532 | $38,876 | $14,137 |
| Bachelor's | 27 | $37,680 | $48,360 | $27,000 |
| Master's | 2 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $31,552, versus $37,680 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Culinary Education | NY | $40,275 | $52,292 | $6,777 |
| 2 | Institute of Culinary Education | CA | $40,275 | $52,292 | $6,777 |
| 3 | Brookdale Community College | NJ | — | $49,631 | — |
| 4 | Scottsdale Community College | AZ | — | $48,203 | — |
| 5 | Bunker Hill Community College | MA | — | $47,344 | — |
| 6 | Saint Paul College | MN | — | $45,485 | — |
| 7 | Dallas College | TX | $34,965 | $44,825 | $15,703 |
| 8 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | WI | — | $43,888 | — |
| 9 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | PA | $31,975 | $43,369 | $12,000 |
| 10 | Texas State Technical College | TX | — | $43,153 | — |
| 11 | Miami Dade College | FL | $36,987 | $42,866 | $5,427 |
| 12 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | MN | — | $41,759 | — |
| 13 | Arizona Culinary Institute | AZ | $38,221 | $41,556 | $9,500 |
| 14 | Lakeshore Technical College | WI | — | $41,212 | — |
| 15 | Montgomery County Community College | PA | $41,067 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Technical Community College | NC | $46,577 | $57,946 | — |
| 2 | Hawaii Community College | HI | — | $53,093 | — |
| 3 | Culinary Institute of America | NY | $39,688 | $51,815 | $12,000 |
| 4 | Leeward Community College | HI | $51,380 | — | — |
| 5 | National Louis University | IL | $38,541 | $49,873 | $13,083 |
| 6 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | NY | — | $49,687 | — |
| 7 | Sullivan County Community College | NY | — | $48,285 | — |
| 8 | Seattle Central College | WA | $47,046 | — | $16,250 |
| 9 | Des Moines Area Community College | IA | $37,050 | $46,367 | — |
| 10 | Brookdale Community College | NJ | — | $46,020 | — |
| 11 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | NY | — | $45,967 | — |
| 12 | Joliet Junior College | IL | $43,155 | $45,939 | — |
| 13 | Ferris State University | MI | — | $45,794 | — |
| 14 | Southern Maine Community College | ME | $31,356 | $45,766 | — |
| 15 | Grand Rapids Community College | MI | $43,955 | $45,620 | $9,888 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | — | $53,877 | — |
| 2 | Walnut Hill College | PA | $37,008 | $51,631 | $27,000 |
| 3 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | NY | — | $51,524 | — |
| 4 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence | RI | $45,406 | $49,323 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | NC | $45,406 | $49,323 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | PA | — | $48,360 | — |
| 7 | Culinary Institute of America | NY | $48,130 | — | $26,250 |
| 8 | University of North Alabama | AL | — | $47,708 | — |
| 9 | Nicholls State University | LA | $32,721 | $46,293 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science | NY | $38,027 | $44,781 | — |
| 11 | Mississippi University for Women | MS | $30,777 | $37,800 | — |
| 12 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | NY | $37,680 | — | $26,000 |
| 13 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus | PR | $22,280 | $34,582 | $14,720 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston University | MA | — | $68,265 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do culinary arts and related services graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in culinary arts and related services reports median earnings of $37,680. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
