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Culinary Arts and Related Services at Saint Louis Community College

Bridgeton, MO · Public · Associate Degree

serving 11,174 students in Bridgeton, MO.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $26,318/yr, edging above the $23,994 national average for Culinary Arts and Related Services — 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 and Related Services career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Saint Louis Community College ranks #26 among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 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

View all 137 schools offering Culinary Arts and Related Services →

Culinary Arts and Related Services 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

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($68,262) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($60,906) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($55,754) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($51,903) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($38,235) Human Services, General ($34,931) Business/Commerce, General ($34,419) Funeral Service and Mortuary Science ($32,964)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Culinary Arts and Related Services 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 and Related Services program score?
At 67/100, Saint Louis Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
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.
Why does Saint Louis Community College rank so high for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
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 and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →