Best colleges for Culinary in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Institute of Technology is the only California college that awards Culinary degrees and certificates: 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
The Culinary program, officially titled 'Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other,' focuses on the art of food preparation, cooking, and presentation. This field is ideal for individuals passionate about creating meals and…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Technology Clovis Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,873 | 37 | 73% | $24,518 | $10,870 |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary degrees in California
By graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Technology Clovis Private for-profit | 37 | $25,873 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Concierges (SOC 39-6012).
Top skills
What Concierges earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Culinary degrees?+
Institute of Technology is the only California college that awards Culinary degrees and certificates: 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions).
Which Culinary program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Institute of Technology tops the list at $25,873. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Concierges earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Concierges in California is $46,870 (median $43,560), across about 5,150 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Culinary program?+
The Culinary program, officially titled 'Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other,' focuses on the art of food preparation, cooking, and presentation. This field is ideal for individuals passionate about creating meals and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Concierges?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 6,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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