Best colleges for Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services
Any instructional program in culinary, entertainment, and personal services not listed above.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 52 Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.9999, a specialization of Culinary (CIP 12.99), and leads most directly to the Concierges occupation (BLS SOC 39-6012).
About Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services programs
Any instructional program in culinary, entertainment, and personal services not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Culinary program, officially titled 'Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other,' offers students a comprehensive education in various aspects of culinary arts and personal services. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in hospitality, culinary management, and related fields. With a focus on practical skills and customer service, students will be well-prepared for a dynamic work environment.
Students in the Culinary program will develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers vital knowledge areas including customer service, administrative tasks, and management principles, ensuring graduates are equipped to excel in the culinary and hospitality sectors.
Credentials awarded
What Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years46 graduates / yr · 2 institutions89%
- Associate's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
Graduates over time
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,139 |
| 2013 | 605 |
| 2014 | 599 |
| 2015 | 478 |
| 2016 | 514 |
| 2017 | 616 |
| 2018 | 694 |
| 2019 | 320 |
| 2020 | 280 |
| 2021 | 81 |
| 2022 | 95 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2024 | 101 |
| 2025 | 52 |
Top 3 institutions for Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Technology Clovis, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 37 | 73% | $24,518 | $25,873 |
| 2 | Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 71% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College Blue Ash, OHPublicAssociate's | 6 | 16% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Culinary field (CIP 12.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 37 | Institute of Technology37 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 9 | Canadian Valley Technology Center9 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 6 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-6012, Concierges, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Culinary program can pursue careers such as concierges, with an annual job outlook of approximately 6,800 openings. The median wage for this occupation is around $37,320, and typical education requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent. The field is expected to grow at a rate of 2.3%, indicating steady demand for skilled professionals.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.9999
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Conciergesprimary SOC 39-6012 | $38,950 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~6,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are currently 3 colleges offering the Culinary program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and customer service.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
You can work as a concierge and other roles in the culinary and hospitality fields.
What is the CIP code for Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services?+
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services is CIP 12.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary (CIP 12.99). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in culinary, entertainment, and personal services not listed above.
How many institutions offer Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 52 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Culinary graduates.
How much do Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Concierges occupation, which Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $38,950 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,873, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Culinary graduates, so its figures match the Culinary program page.
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