Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services by graduate earnings are Johnson County Community College ($38,977), Southeast Community College Area ($36,734) and Fox Valley Technical College ($34,736), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS): $38,977, 42 graduates a year
- Southeast Community College Area (Lincoln, NE): $36,734, 86 graduates a year
- Fox Valley Technical College (Appleton, WI): $34,736, 66 graduates a year
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (Asheville, NC): $32,602, 80 graduates a year
- Saint Paul College (Saint Paul, MN): $32,478, 40 graduates a year
Compare 556 U.S. colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Culinary Arts and Related Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,389 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 12.05 and the Cooks, Restaurant occupation (BLS SOC).
About Culinary Arts and Related Services programs
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 hospitality, offering a pathway to a dynamic and creative profession.
Students will gain core skills in food production, customer service, and safety practices. Coursework often includes critical thinking, mathematics, and hands-on cooking experiences, ensuring a well-rounded education in culinary arts.
Top 25 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 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS Public · Associate degree | $38,977 | 42 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Certificate | $36,734 | 86 | 38% | — | $19,146 |
| 3 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Associate degree | $34,736 | 66 | 65% | — | $14,234 |
| 4 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC Public · Associate degree | $32,602 | 80 | 40% | — | — |
| 5 | Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN Public · Certificate | $32,478 | 40 | 40% | — | $17,500 |
| 6 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing, NJ Public · Associate degree | $31,639 | 28 | 30% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Associate degree | $31,101 | 138 | 46% | — | $10,882 |
| 8 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · Certificate | $30,484 | 225 | 32% | — | $9,218 |
| 9 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $29,451 | 45 | 34% | — | $19,657 |
| 10 | Arizona Culinary Institute Scottsdale, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate | $29,223 | 133 | 91% | $39,067 | $9,500 |
| 11 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · Certificate | $29,155 | 56 | 56% | — | $12,000 |
| 12 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $28,159 | 49 | 61% | $35,483 | $20,000 |
| 13 | Culinary Institute Inc Houston, TX Private for-profit · Associate degree | $28,089 | 162 | 100% | $27,563 | $27,829 |
| 14 | Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $28,049 | 768 | 63% | $31,271 | $12,000 |
| 15 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH Public · Associate degree | $28,037 | 94 | 41% | — | $15,834 |
| 16 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay, OR Public · Certificate | $27,727 | 59 | 40% | — | $12,000 |
| 17 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $27,514 | 350 | 55% | $31,634 | $14,745 |
| 18 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Charlotte, NC Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $27,514 | 182 | 49% | $29,446 | $14,745 |
| 19 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL Public · Certificate | $27,210 | 50 | 64% | — | — |
| 20 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC Public · Associate degree | $27,127 | 159 | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Associate degree | $27,056 | 82 | 45% | — | — |
| 22 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · Associate degree | $26,927 | 46 | 46% | — | $10,721 |
| 23 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $26,913 | 44 | 39% | — | $11,167 |
| 24 | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin Austin, TX Private for-profit · Associate degree | $26,613 | 147 | 70% | $21,708 | $13,300 |
| 25 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY Public · Associate degree | $26,598 | 23 | 55% | — | $12,000 |
Specializations within Culinary Arts and Related Services
12 of the 12 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 12.05 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions48 states - Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions40 states - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions36 states
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions35 states - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions23 states - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions11 states
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions8 states - Institutional Food WorkersCIP 12.0508187 graduates / yr13 institutions10 states
- Bartending/CIP 12.0502
Bartender partial data171 graduates / yr8 institutions5 states - Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions4 states - Meat Cutting/CIP 12.0506
Meat Cutter 48 graduates / yr10 institutions7 states - Wine Steward/CIP 12.0510
Sommelier limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Offered across 51 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 35-2014, Cooks, Restaurant, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Culinary Arts and Related Services program can pursue various careers, including chefs, bakers, and restaurant managers. The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 14.9% and approximately 250,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $36,830, and formal education is not always required.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Culinary Arts and Related Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 12.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 12.05 (Culinary Arts and Related Services) maps to 14 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9051 | Food Service Managers |
| 13-1022 | Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products |
| 19-1012 | Food Scientists and Technologists |
| 25-1199 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other |
| 35-1011 | Chefs and Head Cooks |
| 35-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers |
| 35-2012 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria |
| 35-2013 | Cooks, Private Household |
| 35-2014 | Cooks, Restaurantprimary |
| 35-2019 | Cooks, All Other |
| 35-3011 | Bartenders |
| 51-3011 | Bakers |
| 51-3021 | Butchers and Meat Cutters |
| 51-3023 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Culinary Arts and Related Services 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
- Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
- Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
- Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
- Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
- Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Bartending, Culinary Arts/Chef Training, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, food production, customer service, and safety practices.
What is the job outlook for culinary arts graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 14.9% and approximately 250,700 annual openings.
Do I need a formal education to work in culinary arts?+
No formal educational credential is typically required, although training can enhance job prospects.
How much do Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates earn?+
Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,389, College Scorecard (2019); the Cooks, Restaurant occupation pays about $38,730 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Culinary Arts and Related Services?+
Culinary Arts and Related Services maps to CIP 12.05 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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