Certificate (under 1 year)+2% vs national median534 grads tracked
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at Lone Star College System
Ranked 39th of 97 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$26,136
middle 50%: $19,392 – $34,587
Median · 5 years out
$36,097
middle 50%: $24,441 – $53,306
Median · 10 years out
$41,695
middle 50%: $29,381 – $62,270
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
Lone Star College System graduates in Culinary Services earn a median $26k in year one. Median earnings reach $42k after ten years.
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
12.4 yrs
≈ $15,112 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Lane Community College
$36,215 · 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
Trident Technical College
$35,098 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$34,978 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Lone Star College System
Fire Protection (Associate)
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$88,842 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$87,304 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$82,784 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$81,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,306 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out