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Culinary Arts at Hudson County Community College

Jersey City, NJ · Public · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

enrolling 6,386 students in Jersey City, NJ.

Program Analysis

At $26,170 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Hudson County Community College earn slightly above the $23,994 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 37.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 28% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Culinary Arts career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $11,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #51 ranking among 137 Culinary Arts programs places Hudson County Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 37% earnings increase from $26,170 to $35,726 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $26,170/yr (9% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$381K
8.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
37.9x
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 (In-State)
$10,040
Out-of-state: $24,560
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,500
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,726
37% 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

What can you do with a Culinary Arts credential from Hudson County Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

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 Hudson County Community College

Nursing ($92,941) Allied Health Professions ($64,320) Business Administration ($34,810) Health Sciences ($34,545) Accounting ($28,818) Computer Science ($25,735) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,541) Fine and Studio Arts ($22,619)

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 Hudson County Community College's Culinary Arts program score?
At 63/100, Hudson County Community College's Culinary Arts program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts?
For Hudson County Community College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Culinary Arts rated "AI-Proof" — 80% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Culinary Arts program at Hudson County Community College?
Beyond Hudson County Community 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.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts graduates?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts offers a very large employment pool. Hudson County Community College graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →