Culinary Arts and Related Services at Atlantic Cape Community College

Mays Landing, NJ · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 3,860 in Mays Landing, NJ.

Program Analysis

At $31,639 per year, Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates from Atlantic Cape Community College significantly outpace the $23,994 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

With a 34.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Culinary Arts and Related Services involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

The median debt load of $11,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Atlantic Cape Community College ranks #28 among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $31,639/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$331K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
34.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 13
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,726
Out-of-state: $14,526
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Food scientists and technologists $85,310 +6.5% 65%
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Food service managers $65,310 +6.4% 58%
Food scientists and technologists
$85,310
+6.5% growth 65% AI-proof
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof
Food service managers
$65,310
+6.4% growth 58% AI-proof

View all 13 career paths with full salary data →

About Culinary Arts and Related Services Careers

Your career will likely begin in the controlled chaos of a professional kitchen. As a restaurant cook, you'll spend your days prepping ingredients with precision and working the line during a busy service, mastering the grill, sauté pans, and fryer. This path is seeing incredible growth, with huge demand for skilled cooks.

Read the full Culinary Arts and Related Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts and Related Services Overview

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Atlantic Cape Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Atlantic Cape Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
This program scores 67/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Highly resilient. Culinary Arts and Related Services careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 13 of 13 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Why does Atlantic Cape Community College rank so high for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
The #28 ranking out of 137 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Culinary Arts and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Culinary Arts and Related Services connects to 17 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts and Related Services workers?
The career paths mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services have roughly 789,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →