WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+4% vs national median54 grads tracked

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Northern Virginia Community College

Ranked 19th of 51 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,772
middle 50%: $25,850 – $48,487
Median · 5 years out
$40,883
middle 50%: $31,537 – $63,610
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 (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Virginia Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Culinary Arts and Related Services earn a median $33,772 one year after graduating, rising to $40,883 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $39,209 for this field, ranking 19th of 51 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
10.8 yrs
≈ $12,242 total interest

Same major at other universities

Moraine Valley Community College
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Kapiolani Community College
$42,258 · 5 yrs out
Rockland Community College
$42,146 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$42,063 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii Maui College
$41,544 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$40,883 · 5 yrs out
Elaine P. Nunez Community College
$40,342 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$40,113 · 5 yrs out
Hawaii Community College
$39,998 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$39,209 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$39,196 · 5 yrs out
Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College
$39,119 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Virginia Community College

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,430 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,510 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades, General (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$92,628 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Surveying Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$87,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$86,799 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Associate)
$86,785 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
Compare universities
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services
Compare universities
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other
Compare universities
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Compare universities