WhatGradsMake
Associate-14% vs national median86 grads tracked

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Rend Lake College

Ranked 93rd of 105 associate programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$24,450
middle 50%: $18,423 – $30,704
Median · 5 years out
$34,840
middle 50%: $26,948 – $57,301
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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

Graduates of Rend Lake College's associate program in Culinary Arts and Related Services earn a median $24,450 one year after graduating, rising to $34,840 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $40,404 for this field, ranking 93rd of 105 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
14.3 yrs
≈ $17,086 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ozarks Technical Community College
$36,655 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Oregon Community College
$36,248 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$35,899 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$35,374 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$35,051 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Maine Community College
$34,970 · 5 yrs out
East Central College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$34,637 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$34,531 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology - Okmulgee
$34,458 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
$34,107 · 5 yrs out
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
$33,005 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Rend Lake College

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,768 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,993 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Production Operations (Certificate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,395 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,897 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$59,934 · 5 yrs out

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