WhatGradsMake
Associate-13% vs national median133 grads tracked

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Southwestern Illinois College

Ranked 91st of 105 associate programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,078
middle 50%: $21,322 – $35,215
Median · 5 years out
$35,051
middle 50%: $28,392 – $48,291
Median · 10 years out
$58,659
middle 50%: $40,613 – $81,671

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 Southwestern Illinois College's associate program in Culinary Arts and Related Services earn a median $28,078 one year after graduating, rising to $58,659 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $40,404 for this field, ranking 91st 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
10.6 yrs
≈ $13,618 total interest

Same major at other universities

Sullivan County Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$36,674 · 5 yrs out
Northern Wyoming Community College District
$36,674 · 5 yrs out
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
Eastern Maine Community College
$34,970 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$34,840 · 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

Other majors at Southwestern Illinois College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$80,595 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
Carpenters (Certificate)
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$70,365 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$69,946 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$68,650 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,526 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out

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