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Culinary Arts and Related Services at College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 15,185 in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Program Analysis

College of DuPage's Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates start at $26,952/yr — above the $23,994 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 32.6x 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.

With only 20% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Culinary Arts and Related Services are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Ranked #47 out of 137 programs, College of DuPage's Culinary Arts and Related Services offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
63
Score
63
High End
Earnings $26,952/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$282K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.6x
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)
$8,640
Out-of-state: $25,020

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

View all 137 schools offering Culinary Arts and Related Services →

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Johnson County Community College ($38,977) Southeast Community College Area ($36,734) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($36,330) Fox Valley Technical College ($34,736) Washtenaw Community College ($33,382) Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College ($32,602) Saint Paul College ($32,478) Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($32,023)

Other Majors at College of DuPage

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($69,105) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($62,471) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($59,215) Fire Protection ($58,160) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($53,537) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($52,904) Accounting and Related Services ($52,724) Accounting and Related Services ($47,775)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Culinary Arts and Related Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does College of DuPage's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
A score of 63/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Culinary Arts and Related Services field.
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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
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.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
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 →