WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+7% vs national median93 grads tracked

Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at McHenry County College

Ranked 27th of 97 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$26,407
middle 50%: $19,475 – $37,454
Median · 5 years out
$38,077
middle 50%: $30,514 – $48,698
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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 McHenry County College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services earn a median $26,407 one year after graduating, rising to $38,077 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $35,528 for this field, ranking 27th 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
12.6 yrs
≈ $14,894 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$39,127 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$39,048 · 5 yrs out
Odessa College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Emily Griffith Technical College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$38,814 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$38,322 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$38,031 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$37,841 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
$37,801 · 5 yrs out
College of the Mainland
$37,722 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at McHenry County College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$114,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$99,994 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,080 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$71,823 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$70,584 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$68,327 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$66,619 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out

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