Culinary Arts and Related Services at Helms College

Augusta, GA · Private nonprofit · Certificate

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

Program Analysis

At $19,403 per year, Culinary Arts and Related Services 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 and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Culinary Arts and Related Services'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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 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 Helms 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 Helms College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
A score of 53/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Helms College trails the majority of Culinary Arts and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Culinary Arts and Related Services work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Why are Culinary Arts and Related Services 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.
Can I learn Culinary Arts and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →