Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Miami Dade College, Hillsborough College and Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale are the top Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Miami Dade College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,101, College Scorecard. Valencia College, Miami Dade College and Orange Technical College - South Campus award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Florida: 444, 138 and 136 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 48 Florida colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 1,804 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…
Top 9 institutions, 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 | Miami Dade College Miami Public · Associate degree | $31,101 | 138 | 46% | — | $10,882 |
| 2 | Hillsborough College Tampa Public · Associate degree | $29,451 | 45 | 34% | — | $19,657 |
| 3 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $28,159 | 49 | 61% | $35,483 | $20,000 |
| 4 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton Public · Certificate | $27,210 | 50 | 64% | — | — |
| 5 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek Public · Certificate | $25,586 | 41 | 65% | — | — |
| 6 | Valencia College Orlando Public · Associate degree | $25,227 | 444 | 48% | — | $17,468 |
| 7 | Pinellas Technical College - Clearwater Clearwater Public · Certificate | $21,965 | 68 | 52% | — | — |
| 8 | Florida Education Institute Miami Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,531 | 56 | 74% | $36,343 | $9,500 |
| 9 | William T McFatter Technical College Davie Public · Certificate | $15,021 | 64 | 66% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Florida
Top 10 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 | Valencia College Orlando Public | 444 | $25,227 |
| 2 | Miami Dade College Miami Public | 138 | $31,101 |
| 3 | Orange Technical College - South Campus Orlando Public | 136 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pinellas Technical College - Clearwater Clearwater Public | 68 | $21,965 |
| 5 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce Public | 66 | Not reported |
| 6 | William T McFatter Technical College Davie Public | 64 | $15,021 |
| 7 | Florida Education Institute Miami Private for-profit | 56 | $20,531 |
| 8 | Mariano Moreno Culinary Institute Miami Private for-profit | 52 | Not reported |
| 9 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton Public | 50 | $27,210 |
| 10 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit | 49 | $28,159 |
ShowHide the other 38 Florida colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
Valencia College (444 graduates a year), Miami Dade College (138 graduates a year) and Orange Technical College - South Campus (136 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 48 Florida colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
What is the best college for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Miami Dade College leads among Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,101, College Scorecard. Hillsborough College and Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale follow. By degrees awarded, Valencia College is the largest, with 444 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Miami Dade College tops the list at $31,101. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Florida is $38,320 (median $37,020), across about 124,040 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Culinary Arts and Related Services program?+
The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Cooks, Restaurant?+
The national job outlook is about +14.9% growth with around 250,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential 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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