Best colleges for Culinary
Ranked by graduate earnings
Compare 3 U.S. colleges offering Culinary by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 3 states.
Culinary programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,873 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 12.99 and the Concierges occupation (BLS SOC).
About Culinary programs
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 experiences centered around food. Students will develop skills necessary for various culinary settings, including restaurants and catering services.
In this program, students will acquire essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Knowledge areas include customer service, administrative tasks, and management principles, all vital for success in the culinary industry.
Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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, CA Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,873 | 37 | 73% | $24,518 | $10,870 |
Specializations within Culinary
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 12.99 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 3 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Californialimited | 1 | $25,873 | Institute of Technology |
| Ohiolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-6012, Concierges, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Culinary program can pursue careers in various culinary roles, with an expected job growth rate of 2.3% and approximately 6,800 annual openings. The median wage for culinary professionals is $37,320, and typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Culinary
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 12.99.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 12.99 (Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 39-6012 | Conciergesprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Culinary programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Provide information about local features, such as shopping, dining, nightlife, or recreational destinations.
- Make reservations for patrons, such as for dinner, spa treatments, or golf tee times, and obtain tickets to special events.
- Provide directions to guests.
- Order flowers for guests.
- Make travel arrangements for sightseeing or other tours.
- Pick up and deliver items or run errands for guests.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Culinary program?+
The program focuses on food preparation, cooking, and presentation.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn active listening, critical thinking, and customer service skills.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
There is a growth rate of 2.3% with about 6,800 annual openings in culinary roles.
What is the typical education required for this field?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
How much do Culinary graduates earn?+
Culinary graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,873, College Scorecard (2019); the Concierges occupation pays about $42,510 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Culinary?+
Culinary maps to CIP 12.99 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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