Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Puerto Rico
Ranked by graduate earnings
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus, Academia Serrant Inc and ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez are the top Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Puerto Rico by graduate earnings. Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $14,017, College Scorecard. NUC University, Escuela Hotelera de San Juan and IVAEM College award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Puerto Rico: 979, 186 and 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Puerto Rico colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 1,862 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 7 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 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $14,017 | 109 | 34% | $8,847 | $13,000 |
| 2 | Academia Serrant Inc Ponce Private for-profit · Certificate | $13,563 | 44 | 88% | $7,589 | — |
| 3 | ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez Mayaguez Private for-profit · Certificate | $12,730 | 55 | 67% | $6,374 | — |
| 4 | NUC University Bayamon Private for-profit · Certificate | $12,403 | 979 | 54% | $9,377 | $9,500 |
| 5 | Escuela Hotelera de San Juan Hato Rey Private for-profit · Certificate | $10,107 | 186 | 85% | $16,946 | $3,500 |
| 6 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $8,252 | 13 | 40% | $10,234 | — |
| 7 | Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $6,330 | 19 | 64% | $7,083 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Puerto Rico
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 | NUC University Bayamon Private for-profit | 979 | $12,403 |
| 2 | Escuela Hotelera de San Juan Hato Rey Private for-profit | 186 | $10,107 |
| 3 | IVAEM College Caguas Private for-profit | 172 | Not reported |
| 4 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina Private not-for-profit | 109 | $14,017 |
| 5 | ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez Mayaguez Private for-profit | 55 | $12,730* |
| 6 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla Private not-for-profit | 52 | Not reported |
| 7 | Academia Serrant Inc Ponce Private for-profit | 44 | $13,563 |
| 8 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Mercedita Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 9 | ICPR Junior College - Arecibo Arecibo Private for-profit | 39 | $12,730* |
| 10 | ICPR Junior College Manati Private for-profit | 35 | $12,730* |
ShowHide the other 8 Puerto Rico colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas | Barranquitas | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon | Bayamon | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| ICPR Junior College | Hato Rey | Private for-profit | 24 |
| Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico | Aguadilla | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez | Mayaguez | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo | Fajardo | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Puerto Rico Advance Institute | Bayamon | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro | San Juan | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Puerto Rico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Puerto Rico.
Which Puerto Rico colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
NUC University (979 graduates a year), Escuela Hotelera de San Juan (186 graduates a year) and IVAEM College (172 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Puerto Rico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Puerto Rico colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
What is the best college for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Puerto Rico?+
By graduate earnings, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus leads among Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Puerto Rico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $14,017, College Scorecard. Academia Serrant Inc and ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez follow. By degrees awarded, NUC University is the largest, with 979 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Puerto Rico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus tops the list at $14,017. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Puerto Rico?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Puerto Rico is $26,240 (median $24,650), across about 9,810 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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