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Culinary Arts at Niagara County Community College

Sanborn, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

with a smaller student body of 2,859 in Sanborn, NY.

Program Analysis

At $26,514 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Niagara County Community College earn slightly above the $23,994 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 23.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 13% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Culinary Arts involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

The median debt load of $11,970 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #68 ranking among 137 Culinary Arts programs places Niagara County Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $26,514 to $31,183 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
60
Score
60
High End
Earnings $26,514/yr (11% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$320K
4.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
23.8x
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)
$13,452
Out-of-state: $23,724
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,970
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,183
18% 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

Explore what Culinary Arts graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 137 programs nationwide.

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 Niagara County Community College

Nursing ($72,260) Allied Health Professions ($52,564) Accounting ($39,761) Medical Assisting ($36,053) Agricultural Production Operations ($33,131) Business Administration ($31,212) Chemistry ($29,339) Criminal Justice ($27,970)

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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Culinary Arts at Niagara County Community College?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Culinary Arts field.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts?
For Niagara 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 Niagara County Community College?
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 Niagara County Community College.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts workers?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts offers a very large employment pool. Niagara 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 →