Culinary Arts and Related Services at Schoolcraft Community College District

Livonia, MI · Public · Associate Degree

serving 6,626 students in Livonia, MI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,248/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.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 42.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Culinary Arts and Related Services's career paths, with 20% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 24% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,325 represents roughly 7 months of the $27,248 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

At #34 of 137 nationally, this is a top-5% Culinary Arts and Related Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $27,248 to $35,743 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Culinary Arts and Related Services offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
65
Score
66
High End
Earnings $27,248/yr (14% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$377K
7.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.4x
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)
$8,896
Out-of-state: $15,812
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,325
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,743
31% 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

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Schoolcraft Community College District's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How safe is Culinary Arts and Related Services from automation?
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 does Schoolcraft Community College District rank so high for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Schoolcraft Community College District's #34 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →