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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Culinary Arts and Related Services associate's degree programs in Illinois

Compare 6 reporting programs using the same federal field and associate's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

6Programs reporting earnings

$43,967Median year-4 earnings

$16,375Median federal debt

3Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Illinois

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1College of DuPageGlen Ellyn · Debt not reported$50,503 2National Louis UniversityChicago · $17,500 federal debt$45,609 3Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet · $16,375 federal debt$44,605 4College of Lake CountyGrayslake · Debt not reported$43,967 5Roosevelt UniversityChicago · Debt not reported$43,498 6City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago · $6,285 federal debt$28,042

CAREER CONTEXT IN IL

What related occupations pay in Illinois

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

35-1011Chefs and Head Cooks

State median wage: $58,830
Middle 50% wage range: $50,000–$73,620
State employment: 8,290
Projected growth: +6.6%
Annual openings: 25,200

10th–90th percentile: $40,330–$88,420

35-1012First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

State median wage: $39,470
Middle 50% wage range: $36,170–$54,020
State employment: 41,030
Projected growth: +5.4%
Annual openings: 171,500

10th–90th percentile: $32,010–$65,000

35-2019Cooks, All Other

State median wage: $35,940
Middle 50% wage range: $35,940–$49,290
State employment: Not reported
Projected growth: +5.2%
Annual openings: 2,800

10th–90th percentile: $35,940–$57,310

11-9051Food Service Managers

State median wage: $63,930
Middle 50% wage range: $52,250–$79,850
State employment: 11,270
Projected growth: +5.8%
Annual openings: 38,800

10th–90th percentile: $36,390–$101,960

35-2012Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

State median wage: $37,440
Middle 50% wage range: $34,560–$43,280
State employment: 22,840
Projected growth: +2.8%
Annual openings: 62,900

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$48,130

35-2014Cooks, Restaurant

State median wage: $37,580
Middle 50% wage range: $35,360–$45,010
State employment: 53,540
Projected growth: +12.1%
Annual openings: 218,600

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$46,460

19-1012Food Scientists and Technologists

State median wage: $94,340
Middle 50% wage range: $72,470–$129,500
State employment: 780
Projected growth: +6.2%
Annual openings: 1,000

10th–90th percentile: $63,730–$166,670

25-1199Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

State median wage: $59,590
Middle 50% wage range: $31,200–$76,790
State employment: 990
Projected growth: +2.0%
Annual openings: 12,500

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$108,510

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	College of DuPage	Glen Ellyn	$50,503	Not available
2	National Louis University	Chicago	$45,609	$17,500
3	Joliet Junior College	Joliet	$44,605	$16,375
4	College of Lake County	Grayslake	$43,967	Not available
5	Roosevelt University	Chicago	$43,498	Not available
6	City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College	Chicago	$28,042	$6,285

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Culinary Arts and Related Services in Illinois

What do Culinary Arts and Related Services associate's degree graduates earn in Illinois?

Across 6 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $43,967 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $16,375 among the 3 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. College of DuPage has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.