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Culinary Arts at Saint Louis Community College

Bridgeton, MO · Public · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

serving 11,174 students in Bridgeton, MO.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $26,318/yr, edging above the $23,994 national average for Culinary Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

With a 50.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 26% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Culinary Arts career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Saint Louis Community College ranks #26 among 137 Culinary Arts programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 34% earnings increase from $26,318 to $35,232 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $26,318/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$373K
7.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
51.0x
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 (In-State)
$7,320
Out-of-state: $13,980
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,232
34% 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

Culinary Arts opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 Saint Louis Community College

Nursing ($68,262) Dental Assisting ($60,906) Allied Health Professions ($55,754) Allied Health Professions ($51,903) Computer Networking ($38,235) Human Services ($34,931) Business ($34,419) Funeral Service & Mortuary Science ($32,964)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Culinary Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Saint Louis Community College's Culinary Arts program score?
At 67/100, Saint Louis Community College's Culinary Arts program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Will AI replace Culinary Arts jobs?
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.
Why does Saint Louis Community College rank so high for Culinary Arts?
The #26 ranking out of 137 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Culinary Arts through an apprenticeship instead of Saint Louis Community College?
If Saint Louis Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts graduates?
The career paths mapped to Culinary Arts have roughly 789,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →