Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Walnut Hill College and Pennsylvania College of Technology are the top Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Indiana University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,155, College Scorecard. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Walnut Hill College and Commonwealth Technical Institute award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 56, 44 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Pennsylvania colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 373 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 6 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 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Certificate | $29,155 | 56 | 56% | — | $12,000 |
| 2 | Walnut Hill College Philadelphia Private for-profit · Associate degree | $25,893 | 44 | 58% | $33,541 | $12,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Public · Associate degree | $25,269 | 25 | 53% | — | $16,000 |
| 4 | Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Public · Certificate | $28,885 | 28 | 28% | — | $15,417 |
| 5 | YTI Career Institute - York York Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $28,351 | 12 | 45% | $17,792 | $19,222 |
| 6 | Jna Institute of Culinary Arts Philadelphia Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $18,774 | 18 | 60% | $18,245 | $13,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 56 | $29,155 |
| 2 | Walnut Hill College Philadelphia Private for-profit | 44 | $25,893 |
| 3 | Commonwealth Technical Institute Johnstown Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Public | 25 | $25,269 |
| 5 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 6 | Jna Institute of Culinary Arts Philadelphia Private for-profit | 18 | $18,774 |
| 7 | Bucks County Community College Newtown Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | YTI Career Institute - York York Private for-profit | 12 | $28,351 |
| 9 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lackawanna College Scranton Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 Pennsylvania colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 42 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 28 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 18 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 11 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 10 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 6 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | Hermitage | Private for-profit | 6 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 5 |
| Delaware Valley University | Doylestown | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown | Public | 2 |
| Jefferson County DuBois Area Vocational Technical School | Reynoldsville | Public | 2 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (56 graduates a year), Walnut Hill College (44 graduates a year) and Commonwealth Technical Institute (36 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Pennsylvania colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
What is the best college for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Indiana University of Pennsylvania leads among Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,155, College Scorecard. Walnut Hill College and Pennsylvania College of Technology follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 56 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Indiana University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $29,155. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Pennsylvania is $35,750 (median $36,580), across about 54,100 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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