Culinary Arts at Baker College

Owosso, MI · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

Baker College accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,026 students in Owosso, MI.

Program Analysis

Baker College's Culinary Arts graduates start at $25,204/yr — above the $23,994 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 15.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 20% of job tasks, producing a 35% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,000 in median debt clears fast against $25,204 in annual earnings.

At #94 out of 137 programs, Baker College's financial outcomes for Culinary Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $25,204 to $37,278 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Culinary Arts, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
57
Score
57
High End
Earnings $25,204/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$407K
10.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
15.9x
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
$25,620
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,278
48% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Culinary Arts 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 →

Culinary Arts Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Culinary Arts — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Baker College and 136 other schools.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

Culinary Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Baker College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 57/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts at Baker College?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Baker College trails the majority of Culinary Arts programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Is Culinary Arts from Baker College a future-proof career choice?
AI resilience is a strength here. Only 20% of Culinary Arts tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 13 of 13 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts graduates?
Beyond Baker College's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Culinary Arts careers — including Baker (Bake Produce). Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts workers?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts offers a very large employment pool. Baker College graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →