Associate-3% vs national median183 grads tracked
Culinary Arts and Related Services at Colorado Mesa University
Ranked 58th of 105 associate programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,222
middle 50%: $21,988 – $38,010
Median · 5 years out
$39,385
middle 50%: $28,065 – $54,453
Median · 10 years out
$42,467
middle 50%: $32,393 – $60,590
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Culinary Arts graduates earn a median of $28k in year one. Earnings rise to $42k by the tenth year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
11.5 yrs
≈ $13,663 total interest
Same major at other universities
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
$39,975 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$39,860 · 5 yrs out
Nicholls State University
$39,745 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$39,617 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Western Community College
$39,517 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
$39,425 · 5 yrs out
Niagara County Community College
$39,355 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$39,119 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Central College
$39,119 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$38,875 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$38,829 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado Mesa University
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$89,103 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$84,259 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$76,868 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,102 · 5 yrs out