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Culinary Arts at Michigan Career and Technical Institute

Plainwell, MI · Public · Certificate · Culinary Arts and Related Services

a smaller institution with 118 students in Plainwell, MI.

Program Analysis

At $15,195 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Michigan Career and Technical Institute earn below the $23,994 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 31.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 20% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Culinary Arts graduates.

Ranked #104 of 137 Culinary Arts programs, Michigan Career and Technical Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $25,371 show a 67% jump from the $15,195 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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
51
Low End
56
Score
56
High End
Earnings $15,195/yr (-37% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$267K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.1x
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)
$8,300
Out-of-state: $12,048
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$25,371
67% 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 Michigan Career and Technical Institute and 136 other schools.

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 Michigan Career and Technical Institute

Woodworking ($26,594) Construction Management Technology ($23,493) Sales & Marketing ($15,674) Graphic Communications ($14,862)

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 Michigan Career and Technical Institute's Culinary Arts program score?
A score of 56/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Michigan Career and Technical Institute trails the majority of Culinary Arts programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Is Culinary Arts from Michigan Career and Technical Institute a future-proof career choice?
Culinary Arts 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.
Is Michigan Career and Technical Institute a good choice for Culinary Arts despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Michigan Career and Technical Institute's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Culinary Arts program at Michigan Career and Technical Institute?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Culinary Arts career paths, including Baker (Bake Produce). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Michigan Career and Technical Institute.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts graduates?
The very large job market (789,200 annual openings) works in favor of Culinary Arts graduates. The national outlook is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →