Culinary Arts at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale has a 97% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 17,370 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Program Analysis

At $28,159 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale earn slightly above the $23,994 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 12% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $18,500 represents roughly 8 months of the $28,159 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #99 of 137 Culinary Arts programs, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $32,736 are relatively flat compared to the $28,159 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
56
Score
57
High End
Earnings $28,159/yr (17% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$336K
3.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
7.0x
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
$48,272
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,736
16% 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 Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale and 136 other schools.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

Culinary Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 56/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale?
At 56/100, the score looks reasonable — but Culinary Arts is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts?
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.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Culinary Arts program at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale?
Beyond Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale'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?
At 789,200 annual openings, Culinary Arts has a very large employment base. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →