Culinary Arts at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus

Carolina, PR · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

a smaller institution with 4,383 students in Carolina, PR.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $13,207 place Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus below the $23,994 national median for Culinary Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 16.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 20% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The $8,950 debt-to-$13,207 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #129 out of 137 programs, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus's financial outcomes for Culinary Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $13,207 to $24,537 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Culinary Arts, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

51 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
51
Score
52
High End
Earnings $13,207/yr (-45% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$232K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
16.7x
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
$13,840
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,950
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$24,537
86% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Culinary Arts careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering personal services.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

Culinary Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Culinary Arts at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus trails the majority of Culinary Arts programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts?
For Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus 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.
Why are Culinary Arts earnings lower at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus?
Starting salary is one data point. If Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus'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?
Beyond Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Culinary Arts careers — including Baker (Bake Produce). Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts workers?
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 →