Culinary Arts and Related Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 111 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$179,456 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−157%Modeled 10-year ROI
$38,508Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$38,508Median reported earnings · year 4
$33,502Average reported earnings · year 5
$15,584Median federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
111Reporting programs
108With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $33,155
- Federal debt
- $11,834
- Reporting programs
- 99
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,508
- Federal debt
- $15,584
- Reporting programs
- 111
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,139
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 20
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,558
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,636
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$35,626National median$38,50875th percentile$41,909
108 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Seattle Central College$53,9462College of DuPage$50,5033SUNY College of Technology at Delhi$50,2084Southern New Hampshire University$50,0555Southern Maine Community College$49,5666Culinary Institute of America$48,3177Schenectady County Community College$48,0738Montgomery County Community College$47,5529University of Alaska Anchorage$46,23110Kalamazoo Valley Community College$45,697Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Chefs and Head CooksSOC 35-1011 · 5 crosswalk linksCooks, All OtherSOC 35-2019 · 4 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersSOC 35-1012 · 4 crosswalk linksCooks, Institution and CafeteriaSOC 35-2012 · 3 crosswalk linksCooks, Private HouseholdSOC 35-2013 · 3 crosswalk linksFood Service ManagersSOC 11-9051 · 3 crosswalk linksCooks, RestaurantSOC 35-2014 · 2 crosswalk linksBakersSOC 51-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksBartendersSOC 35-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksButchers and Meat CuttersSOC 51-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksFood Scientists and TechnologistsSOC 19-1012 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | Seattle, WA | $53,946 | Not available | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | College of DuPageAssociate's Degree | Glen Ellyn, IL | $50,503 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiAssociate's Degree | Delhi, NY | $50,208 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityAssociate's Degree | Manchester, NH | $50,055 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Southern Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Portland, ME | $49,566 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Culinary Institute of AmericaAssociate's Degree | Hyde Park, NY | $48,317 | $12,000 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Schenectady County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Schenectady, NY | $48,073 | Not available | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | $47,552 | $15,417 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Alaska AnchorageAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $46,231 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $45,697 | $14,382 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | National Louis UniversityAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $45,609 | $17,500 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Grand Rapids Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $45,302 | $15,125 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Joliet Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Joliet, IL | $44,605 | $16,375 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $44,490 | Not available | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $44,371 | Not available | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | College of Lake CountyAssociate's Degree | Grayslake, IL | $43,967 | Not available | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Roosevelt UniversityAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $43,498 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Saint Paul CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $42,842 | Not available | -119% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Colorado Mesa UniversityAssociate's Degree | Grand Junction, CO | $42,801 | Not available | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $42,667 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $42,564 | Not available | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Brookdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lincroft, NJ | $42,483 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceAssociate's Degree | Providence, RI | $42,395 | $14,745 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $42,395 | $14,745 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineAssociate's Degree | Providence, RI | $42,395 | $14,745 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $42,361 | $11,000 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,218 | $15,375 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceAssociate's Degree | Paul Smiths, NY | $41,909 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Valencia CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $41,850 | $17,468 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Utah Valley UniversityAssociate's Degree | Orem, UT | $41,464 | Not available | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Pikes Peak State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,389 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Atlantic Cape Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mays Landing, NJ | $41,359 | $11,000 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Culinary Institute IncAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $41,359 | $27,829 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderAssociate's Degree | Boulder, CO | $41,274 | $17,303 | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Niagara County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sanborn, NY | $41,072 | $12,000 | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $40,878 | $11,167 | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleAssociate's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $40,731 | $20,000 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Flathead Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kalispell, MT | $40,677 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $40,669 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $40,291 | Not available | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Northwestern Michigan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Traverse City, MI | $40,148 | $14,199 | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Suffolk County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Selden, NY | $40,131 | Not available | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $40,056 | $23,251 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Johnson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $39,695 | Not available | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Baker CollegeAssociate's Degree | Owosso, MI | $39,471 | $12,000 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Jna Institute of Culinary ArtsAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $39,299 | $13,250 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Delaware Technical Community College-TerryAssociate's Degree | Dover, DE | $38,938 | Not available | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Asheville, NC | $38,846 | Not available | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Akron Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Akron, OH | $38,719 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Butler Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | El Dorado, KS | $38,672 | Not available | -152% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-AustinAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $38,626 | $19,682 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Walnut Hill CollegeAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $38,528 | $12,000 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Okmulgee, OK | $38,487 | $12,500 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $38,421 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Hudson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $38,349 | $12,900 | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $38,198 | Not available | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Helms CollegeAssociate's Degree | Augusta, GA | $38,154 | $20,000 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Macomb Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Warren, MI | $37,984 | Not available | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $37,564 | $20,275 | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Schoolcraft Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Livonia, MI | $37,459 | $15,750 | -180% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Eastwick College-HackensackAssociate's Degree | Hackensack, NJ | $37,382 | $22,522 | -151% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | YTI Career Institute-YorkAssociate's Degree | York, PA | $37,327 | $19,222 | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Sullivan UniversityAssociate's Degree | Louisville, KY | $37,099 | $15,265 | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Monroe UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $36,798 | $13,364 | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $36,700 | $19,434 | -173% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Kapiolani Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $36,663 | $10,087 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAssociate's Degree | Alfred, NY | $36,622 | $12,000 | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleAssociate's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $36,337 | Not available | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Sullivan County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Loch Sheldrake, NY | $36,317 | Not available | -181% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Spokane Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spokane, WA | $36,311 | Not available | -186% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | ECPI UniversityAssociate's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $36,225 | $18,043 | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bentonville, AR | $36,169 | $12,500 | -185% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $36,031 | Not available | -190% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Stark State CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Canton, OH | $36,018 | Not available | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Guam Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mangilao, GU | $35,626 | Not available | -195% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Erie Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $35,337 | $6,439 | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Little Rock, AR | $35,181 | $19,250 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $35,003 | Not available | -199% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Clovis, CA | $34,943 | $17,298 | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $34,705 | Not available | -206% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MO | $34,685 | $10,501 | -199% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Southeast Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $34,561 | Not available | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Hinds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raymond, MS | $34,316 | Not available | -209% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $34,308 | $16,000 | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jamestown, NC | $34,159 | $32,614 | -190% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Hillsborough CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tampa, FL | $34,106 | Not available | -211% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Daytona State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $33,703 | $12,557 | -208% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaAssociate's Degree | Chattanooga, TN | $33,298 | $19,337 | -185% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux City, IA | $33,272 | $12,530 | -209% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roanoke, VA | $32,513 | Not available | -225% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $32,443 | $19,386 | -216% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Conway, SC | $30,524 | $19,500 | -247% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusAssociate's Degree | Carolina, PR | $29,544 | $8,975 | -246% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Louisiana Culinary InstituteAssociate's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $28,862 | Not available | -209% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $28,042 | $6,285 | -256% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $27,150 | $26,217 | -276% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perkinston, MS | $23,960 | Not available | -302% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | NUC UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $23,953 | Not available | -295% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Massasoit Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brockton, MA | $21,364 | Not available | -321% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | Not available | $12,145 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $4,968 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.