Culinary Arts and Related Services: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 20 reporting college programs.
−$254,009 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Culinary Institute of America$61,9442Johnson & Wales University-Providence$55,0563Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte$55,0564Southern New Hampshire University$52,0585SUNY College of Technology at Delhi$51,7166SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill$48,3467Drexel University$48,0948Walnut Hill College$47,3089Nicholls State University$46,96910Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science$42,652Observed 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.
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 | Culinary Institute of AmericaBachelor's Degree | Hyde Park, NY | $61,944 | $27,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $55,056 | $27,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $55,056 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $52,058 | $26,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiBachelor's Degree | Delhi, NY | $51,716 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillBachelor's Degree | Cobleskill, NY | $48,346 | Not available | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $48,094 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Walnut Hill CollegeBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $47,308 | $27,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Nicholls State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Thibodaux, LA | $46,969 | $26,063 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceBachelor's Degree | Paul Smiths, NY | $42,652 | $27,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Mississippi University for WomenBachelor's Degree | Columbus, MS | $42,043 | $25,750 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of North AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Florence, AL | $38,735 | Not available | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusBachelor's Degree | Carolina, PR | $32,489 | $13,000 | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $47,574 | $31,109 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 15 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasBachelor's Degree | , | $47,574 | $31,109 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 16 | The Art Institute of HoustonBachelor's Degree | , | $44,728 | $34,429 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 17 | The Art Institute of AustinBachelor's Degree | , | $44,728 | $34,429 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 18 | The Art Institute of San AntonioBachelor's Degree | , | $44,728 | $34,429 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 19 | The Art Institute of AtlantaBachelor's Degree | , | $38,551 | $40,727 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | The Art Institute of Virginia BeachBachelor's Degree | , | $38,551 | $40,727 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.