WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+2% vs national median66 grads tracked

Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at Kirkwood Community College

Ranked 37th of 97 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal 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, Entertainment, and Personal 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, Entertainment, and Personal Services earn a median $28,969 one year after graduating, rising to $45,505 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $35,528 for this field, ranking 37th of 97 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

College of the Mainland
$37,722 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Pickens Technical College
$37,012 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$36,924 · 5 yrs out
Saint Augustine College
$36,533 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$36,215 · 5 yrs out
Lone Star College System
$36,097 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$35,528 · 5 yrs out
Lee College
$35,466 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$35,184 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$35,115 · 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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