Culinary Arts and Related Services at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR · Private nonprofit · Certificate

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 597 in Mayaguez, PR.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $8,252 place Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez below the $23,994 national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 13.8x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Culinary Arts and Related Services involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

A #135 ranking among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs places Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

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

50 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
48
Low End
50
Score
51
High End
Earnings $8,252/yr (-66% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$86K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
13.8x
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
$6,238

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

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
At 50/100, 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 AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Culinary Arts and Related Services work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Why are Culinary Arts and Related Services earnings lower at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez?
Starting salary is one data point. If Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Culinary Arts and Related Services connects to 17 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services have roughly 789,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →