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Culinary Arts at Helms College

Augusta, GA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Culinary Arts and Related Services

with a smaller student body of 150 in Augusta, GA.

Program Analysis

At $19,403 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Helms College earn below the $23,994 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Culinary Arts's career paths, with 20% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $12,715 represents roughly 8 months of the $19,403 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #123 of 137 Culinary Arts programs, Helms College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $19,403 to $24,839 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Culinary Arts offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
49
Low End
53
Score
53
High End
Earnings $19,403/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$260K
6.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
14.5x
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
$17,924
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,715
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$24,839
28% 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

Culinary Arts opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

View all 137 schools offering Culinary Arts →

Culinary Arts 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 Helms College

Medical Assisting ($24,214) Practical Nursing ($22,206)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Culinary Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Helms College's Culinary Arts program score?
A score of 53/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Helms College trails the majority of Culinary Arts programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI replace Culinary Arts jobs?
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.
Why are Culinary Arts earnings lower at Helms College?
Lower starting pay at Helms College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts graduates?
If Helms College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Will Culinary Arts graduates from Helms College find jobs?
Job availability for Culinary Arts is strong — 789,200 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Helms College graduates specifically, local market conditions in GA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →