WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-5% vs national median66 grads tracked

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Kirkwood Community College

Ranked 34th of 58 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,969
middle 50%: $22,950 – $41,357
Median · 5 years out
$36,308
middle 50%: $28,969 – $43,784
Median · 10 years out
$45,505
middle 50%: $30,804 – $56,700

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Kirkwood Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Culinary Arts and Related Services earn a median $28,969 one year after graduating, rising to $45,505 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $38,322 for this field, ranking 34th of 58 reporting programs.

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
≈ $14,011 total interest

Same major at other universities

Trident Technical College
$38,026 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$37,841 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
$37,801 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Pueblo Community College
$36,956 · 5 yrs out
Saint Augustine College
$36,533 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$36,215 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Texas Community College
$35,233 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$35,184 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$35,115 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$34,606 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Kirkwood Community College

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,528 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out

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