WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+6% vs national median218 grads tracked

Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at College of the Mainland

Ranked 31st of 97 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$26,398
middle 50%: $19,963 – $37,592
Median · 5 years out
$37,722
middle 50%: $28,392 – $47,802
Median · 10 years out
$40,550
middle 50%: $28,247 – $56,272

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 College of the Mainland's certificate (under 1 year) program in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services earn a median $26,398 one year after graduating, rising to $40,550 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $35,528 for this field, ranking 31st 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
12.3 yrs
≈ $14,711 total interest

Same major at other universities

Richland Community College
$38,814 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$38,322 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$38,077 · 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
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
Kirkwood Community College
$36,308 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at College of the Mainland

Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$137,483 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$137,483 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$93,472 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$89,572 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$81,941 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$71,529 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$71,068 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$70,915 · 5 yrs out

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