Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Brookdale Community College, Atlantic Cape Community College and Middlesex College award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in New Jersey: 29, 28 and 19 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 New Jersey colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 231 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 3 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 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing Public · Associate degree | $31,639 | 28 | 30% | — | $11,000 |
| 2 | Hudson County Community College Jersey City Public · Associate degree | $26,170 | 83 | 26% | — | $12,900 |
| 3 | Ocean County Vocational-Technical School Toms River Public · Certificate Small program | $16,566 | 15 | 65% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in New Jersey
Top 7 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 | Brookdale Community College Lincroft Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 2 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing Public | 28 | $31,639 |
| 3 | Middlesex College Edison Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 4 | Ocean County Vocational-Technical School Toms River Public | 15 | $16,566 |
| 5 | Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 6 | County College of Morris Randolph Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 7 | Sussex County Community College Newton Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 New Jersey colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Public | 83 |
| Passaic County Community College | Paterson | Public | 17 |
| Mercer County Community College | West Windsor | Public | 13 |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus | Public | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
Brookdale Community College (29 graduates a year), Atlantic Cape Community College (28 graduates a year) and Middlesex College (19 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 New Jersey colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Atlantic Cape Community College tops the list at $31,639. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey is $40,770 (median $38,460), across about 28,800 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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