Culinary Arts and Related Services at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree

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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 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 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 and Related Services at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale?
At 56/100, the score looks reasonable — but Culinary Arts and Related Services is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How safe is Culinary Arts and Related Services from automation?
Culinary Arts and Related Services rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 20% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Are there apprenticeship options for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
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?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts and Related Services offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →