Culinary Arts and Related Services programs
CIP 1205 · Personal & Culinary Services · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
25 institutions report graduate earnings for Culinary Arts and Related Services programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $42,395 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38× and 54% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 5 of the 30 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceRI · Bachelor's | $55,056 n=280 | 100% | $27,000 | 0.49× | Above +31% | Below 1/2 |
| 2 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Bachelor's | $52,058 n=37 | 100% | $23,500 | 0.45× | Above +17% | Below 1/2 |
| 3 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiNY · Bachelor's | $51,716 n=33 | — | $25,000 | 0.48× | Above +36% | — |
| 4 | Boston UniversityMA · Master's | $51,558 n=28 | 71% 5yr | $40,500 | 0.79× | Below -32% | Below 2/2 |
| 5 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiNY · Associate | $50,208 n=32 | 52% 5yr | $13,984 | 0.28× | Above +32% | Below 1/2 |
| 6 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Associate | $50,055 n=33 | 91% | $12,000 | 0.24× | Above +13% | Below 1/2 |
| 7 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillNY · Bachelor's | $48,346 n=22 | — | $26,000 | 0.54× | Above +27% | Below 1/2 |
| 8 | Drexel UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $48,094 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +28% | — |
| 9 | Nicholls State UniversityLA · Bachelor's | $46,969 n=50 | 50% | $25,000 | 0.53× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | University of Alaska AnchorageAK · Associate | $46,231 n=16 | — | $15,250 | 0.33× | Above +12% | — |
| 11 | National Louis UniversityIL · Associate | $45,609 n=73 | 63% | $12,833 | 0.28× | Above +21% | Below 1/2 |
| 12 | Roosevelt UniversityIL · Associate | $43,498 n=24 | 54% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.28× | Above +15% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | Colorado Mesa UniversityCO · Associate | $42,801 n=18 | 69% 5yr | $16,272 | 0.38× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 14 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceNY · Bachelor's | $42,652 n=34 | 81% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.63× | Above +12% | Below 1/2 |
| 15 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineRI · Associate | $42,395 n=870 | 40% | $14,167 | 0.33× | Above +1% | — |
| 16 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceRI · Associate | $42,395 n=870 | 40% | $14,167 | 0.33× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 17 | Mississippi University for WomenMS · Bachelor's | $42,043 n=25 | 68% 5yr | $25,500 | 0.61× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceNY · Associate | $41,909 n=34 | — | $12,000 | 0.29× | Above +10% | — |
| 19 | Ferris State UniversityMI · Associate | $40,056 n=20 | — | $20,500 | 0.51× | Above +14% | — |
| 20 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPA · UG cert | $39,623 n=66 | 45% 1yr | $12,000 | 0.30× | Above +5% | — |
| 21 | Baker CollegeMI · Associate | $39,471 n=114 | 39% | $12,000 | 0.30× | Above +13% | Below 1/2 |
| 22 | University of North AlabamaAL · Bachelor's | $38,735 n=21 | — | $21,750 | 0.56× | Above +12% | — |
| 23 | University of Akron Main CampusOH · Associate | $38,719 n=17 | — | $21,250 | 0.55× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 24 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusPR · Bachelor's | $32,489 n=83 | 35% | $13,025 | 0.40× | Above +98% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusPR · Associate | $29,544 n=60 | 39% 5yr | $8,950 | 0.30× | Above +80% | — |
| 26 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-PoncePR · UG cert | $18,319 n=31 | — | $3,500 | 0.19× | Above +11% | — |
| 27 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonPR · UG cert | $15,563 n=17 | — | — | — | Below -5% | — |
| 28 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaPR · UG cert | $13,956 n=24 | — | — | — | Below -15% | Below 1/2 |
| 29 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezPR · UG cert | $11,092 n=24 | — | — | — | Below -33% | — |
| 30 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePR · UG cert | $11,092 n=24 | — | — | — | Below -33% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $48,346 | 5 |
| Rhode Island | $42,395 | 3 |
| Puerto Rico | $15,563 | 7 |
States with at least 3 reporting Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Culinary Arts and Related Services programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in this dataset are Johnson & Wales University-Providence ($55,056), Southern New Hampshire University ($52,058), SUNY College of Technology at Delhi ($51,716). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Culinary Arts and Related Services programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 5 of the 30 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.